Let’s give cross-border friendship a real chance
It took Pakistan and India four very long years to reconcile their differences and open the borders to facilitate business, sports and diplomatic ties. Being a complete supporter of Indo-Pak friendship, the efforts put in by both countries is both joyous and commendable. However, the fragility of our relationship makes me think if we can really put our past behind us and embark on a journey which will be mutually beneficial for both the nations. It is quite ironic but all it takes us is a second to launch senseless accusations on each other without paying any heed to the fact that most of the people residing on both sides of the border demand and are in favour of congenial relations between both the countries.
A few days ago one of Pakistan’s most famous politicians visited India to propagate the message of peace and solidarity. However, some of his statements regarding Mumbai attacks and India’s alleged involvement causing instability in the province of Balochistan did not sit well with many political leaders of India. His statements instigated a series of verbal attacks from both sides jeopardising the much awaited cricket series and the overall peace process.
The statements he made are quite debatable; however, what motivated him to make such claims on a peace drive is absolutely unfathomable. I personally do not agree with the words of the aforementioned state figure and believe that he should have refrained from making statements on such a sensitive issue because of their negative effects.
On a completely different front, a week and a half ago, Zeeshan Abbasi, Captain of Pakistan’s blind cricket squad accidentally drank ‘phenyl’ whilst staying at a hotel in Bangalore giving skeptics another very important cue to hatch conspiracy theories. Although Abbasi drank phenyl, which is a common cleaning agent used in the subcontinent, various Pakistani news channels reported that he was ‘made to drink acid’ adding more fuel to the already lit and growing fire.
The comments made by citizens of both the countries perplexed and saddened me immensely and prompted me to hit the roads and ask people about their true opinion and feelings over both the aforementioned solitary incidents — incidents that instigated people to launch a series of verbal attacks blaming each other for malicious acts.
The frantic feedback I got from people ranged from “I am sure he was poisoned out of sheer jealousy because we were winning” to “we want Pakistani authorities to handover all the alleged attackers to India as without that I don’t see any peace process happening”. Whereas other people went on to say that “I do not care who said what and what exactly took place in Bangalore but I am sure that India and Pakistan can never be friends” and “we will forget the past and be friends with Pakistan and then militant factions in Pakistan will launch another attack on Indian soil killing innocent Indian without any reason.”
The other half of Indians and Pakistanis that I called and met were so enraged that they refused to give me any statement at all. However, a non-resident Indian from Detroit, Michigan agreed to sit down with me for a small interview on condition of anonymity and provided me with at least some rationale behind the anger.
“For us the most important issue is to see the perpetrators and militants behind Mumbai attacks behind the bars. We want them to be tried and punished according to the law of the state. Whether that happens in Pakistan or India we do not care. We only want to see that the justice is served. Honestly speaking when I read about how militants who took Mumbai under siege for days roaming freely around in Pakistan, I feel angry and disgusted. On the top of that when Pakistani politicians visit India and make ludicrous statements about lack of evidence for not trying the man and releasing him, I want to question them that if Ajmal Kasab is not a sufficient enough evidence then what qualifies as evidence according to the Pakistani authorities?”
He went on to say that the “sheer act of negligence which resulted in the consumption of phenyl by Abbasi has been turned into several conspiracy theories. Many Pakistanis think that it was a deliberate act of hatred and are demanding justice through thorough investigation of the matter. However, these same people fail to realise that scores of Indians and citizens of many other countries lost their lives during Mumbai attacks of 2008 and there is significant evidence against the perpetrators who are still at large. Our demands are also the same. We want justice and thorough investigation of the case which will bring some consolation to the survivors and people who were affected by the tragic incident.”
The fierce reaction I received made me think that perhaps this is not the best time to ask people of their opinion as once again the emotions are at an all-time high which is why the responses are pretty much extremely naïve and unreasonable. However, it is most important to understand that words spoken by a dignitary or words written by a handful of Indians and Pakistanis on a comment box of a news website do not represent the true emotions of the majority. Many of us fail to realise that it takes years and years of effort to convince people residing on both sides of the border to even initiate a peace dialogue process and all it takes is an absurd statement or unfortunate incident to take us back to square one.
The fierce reaction also makes me wonder if we have ever given peace and friendship a real chance or is it just that most of us are hypocrites. I know that it is absolutely unfair to compare an act of negligence with and act involving terror attacks, however, it is most important to understand that majority of Pakistanis have nothing to do with terrorism. Many of them have the same sentiments about Mumbai attacks and the masterminds behind them as Indians because loss of innocent lives can never be justified. Many sane Pakistanis also firmly believe that Abbasi was certainly not poisoned and the act was nothing but sheer negligence on the part of hotel personnel.
The optimist inside me makes me want to believe that most of us as humans are in favour of peace and long-lasting friendship — which is not easily affected by incidents which are beyond the controls of an average Pakistani or an Indian. Many of us will continue to strive hard and will go several extra miles to bring about a positive change in the cross-border relations because it is high time for us to give peace and love a real chance.
The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com
Majority of Pakistanis are peace loving and only a tiny minority of extremists are responsible for Pakistan’s bad image…..but most popular name in Pakistan is Osama.
http://dawn.com/2012/12/26/principle-standpoints-in-al-bakistan-iii/
That speaks volume of the Pakistani mindset.
Well meaning thoughts very well expressed.
“Absolutely nothing lasts for ever”. Indo Pak enmity will NOT last either. It may take another 65 years but change is the essence of life.
Lets give peace a chance so that atleast future generations of Pakistanis and Indians can live in prosperity
Seriously Faiza! What were you thinking girl! There is so much venom.
It took man a million years to develop a thumb. It will take another millions years to take it out of our arse.
We will be constantly indulging in this blame game. We need to learn to live.
@Mann Singh
I understand your desire for peace, but I feel you could have used better language. I think it’s a tad disrespectful.
Give it a thought bro and wish you a Happy New Year!
Rakesh
Majority of Pakistanis and Indians are tolerant, moderates and progressive thinking. But I guess after Mumbai attacks majority of the Indians lost the trust in Pakistan. Now we came to believe that India and Pakistan can never be friends. It is better that we live our own lives without any love/hate relationship to each other. I don’t think that cricket or for that matter any sport can heal the wounds.
Excellent idea Krishna Ji. I totally agree. Perhaps you can start by restricting yourselves to your own websites.
imran , yaar good one hehehehe….they should go to their own websites, which r full of hate against muslims and pakistanis such as hindustantimes.com or timesofindia.com, we r peacefull and peaceloving people, they should leave us alone
))))
Why Imran? feeling threatened that that such voices as Krishna’s would cut you and other Pakistanis out of the Indian pie that you are so eager to savor?
“Perhaps you can start by restricting yourselves to your own websites.” – The beauty of internet is that it gives everyone in any part of the world to express his/her freedom of expression so long as it is not slander and derogatory. There is no concept of national boundary on internet. The earlier you get used to it, the better it is for you.
Yes Rajesh I know a thing or two about the internet and boundaries. My point is that on the one hand you guys hate us but on the other hand you crowd around our websites like flies to honey. You are simply obsessed with us. Why this hypocrisy?
These comments show the real us and the hate we have for each other
There is no hypocricy in this Imran. I dont think you know a thing or two about Internet and search engines. This article comes with metatags that would have it popping up in search results related to many topics, including the attacks. Then one would have to make a deliberate gesture of avoiding this site because it’s Pakistani. Your ego-driven sarcasm not withstanding, everything changed after 26/11. Krishna is absolutely right. No one in India cares about anything that anyone from Pakistan has to say, so in that I guess our two nations have become somewhat equals. You guys congenitally hate us, have been bred tp detest us for generations now, and we dont want to waste our time trying to make you like us anymore. But that comes with making sure that you cant hurt us any further.
I am not very happy to see so much confusion we have about each other.
IT means we still do not have a clue about what has been happening and what needs to be done as Nations.
Both country s have issues to deal with; The problem is that there are people on both sides who consider themselves the best analyst and make consistent efforts to humiliate each other. I have a few quotes for them as following:
1- Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.
2- If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.
3- Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm.
4- Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them.
The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.
5- The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.
6- We cannot turn the clock back nor can we undo the harm caused, but we have the power to determine the future and to ensure that what happened never happens again.
7- A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion,
whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.
The quotes written above are from successful people around the world and now I will mention two more phrases
“There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” Prophet Mahommad
They who practice severe austerities without following the prescription of the scriptures,
who are full of hypocrisy and egotism, who are impelled by the force of desire and attachment,
who senselessly torture the elements in their body and also Me who dwells within the body,
know these ignorant persons to be of demonic nature.
Bhagavad Gita (17.05-06)
17:53, 54 (Quran) And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner (unto those who do not share their beliefs).
Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe …. Hence, We have not sent you
(Unto men O Prophet) with power to determine their Faith.
Do not take shelter of Religious book for God Sake.
As if you follow every word in spirit.
Talk of Quran and do against it, This is real face of people like you in Pakistan.
Till today you are sending terrorist to d something similar to Mumbai of 2009. And then keep saying he is not Pakistani when all agree,accept then also your ministery saying did you or anyone of you asked him to come and speak truth. Admit it, was that time Quran not there ???
Of course Quran was there. But the above person did not send those bombers to Mumbai. He is trying to put through a message of peace. But with your Mumbai-blinkered glasses, every peace talking Pakistani looks like Kasab. And to us every Indian looks like the butcher Modi. Thats why there is no chance for peace between us and we should stop trying. Peaceniks like Faiza are the minority.
Hi Akram,
You said” every peace talking Pakistani looks like Kasab. And to us every Indian looks like the butcher Modi.”…Can you guys do some google and dig more about butcher Modi…what harm he did to pakistani.
You are right..we should not blame the Holy Books for our ignorant actions.As for the perceptions we have of each other after Mumbai,I think it is largely due to media which focuses on the negative aspects of each other. If its any consolation,even I was a victim of such mindless hatred but now I am beginning to see that Pakistan is not all terrorism as is portrayed but a majority of them are good but are hijacked by a few powerful and twisted people.
Hello Ms Mirza, thank you for writing on this topic. Sorry for my piecemeal comments earlier. And thank you for giving me a platform to express my opinion. I strongly feel that India and Pakistan at the government level shouldn’t try too hard to become friends. We have decades old of mistrust, primararily because of the cause of partition. The bitter partition along with unresolved issues like Kashmir, and the wars we fought. The one thing we can never change is being neighbours. I think we should try to have normal relationship with respect to people-to-people contact and trade. And I think Indian government is trying exactly that. Pakistan should learn that and stop inviting the Indian Prime Minister. I don’t think Indian Prime Minister should go to Pakistan on an official visit. Indians know that Pakistan will NEVER punish the Mumbai terrorist attack culprits. But India should continue keep asking until they find some other way. It is sad to know that the people with power in Pakistan continue to hold ideologies that are definitely going to fail sooner or later. I am talking about tolerating Taliban and using religious extremism as a foreign policy strategy for India and Afganistan. It makes me feel sorry for the people who are suffering. Innocent children like Malala and her generation will have to pay the heavy price of this strategy. It is very sad the powerful Pakistani Army is keeping hostage the wellness of the people for their selfish and at times idiotic ideology. I am an Indian and I wish well for Pakistani people. But please quit trying to be friends. May be we are not meant to be friends. And I mean the governments, not the people. Good luck.
Sentence like”alleged involvement in Balochistan,” mistakenly drank “Phenyl” clearly show the defeated and apologistic mindset just to gain some ranking. Listen to Indira Gandhi speech after naked aggression in East Pakistan. Why in Sharm el sheikh, Egypt Indian PM acknowledge Indian hand in Balochistan, why Brahman dag bugti living in India, why India has opened so many consulates in Afghanistan bordering Pakistan. What the acid mixed water is doing on Blind cricket team dining table? Wasn’t Hanif Muhammad attacked in India after Pakistan win in India , Wasn’t Pakistani team bus was attacked with stones in India tour. Recently Indian lost to England and their media is blaming on conspiracy theory against the spin coach of England guess who Mushtaq Muhammad. Indian always keep on blaming Pakistan and try to prove they are the most innocent nation on earth. RAW still has a desk whose sole responsibility is to destroy Pakistan.
Cut out the acid in your system…it will help reduce your pain.
ha ha….funny man
Why is Pakistan cricket team touring India?
they want money.
good one brother……
Mr. Khan, you got a 77 thumbs down including mine. So think your self. But i do agree India Pakistan can never be a freindly country.
Dear Indians, this editorial is the brainchild of ONE person out of 180 million. Do not consider it to be the views of a nation. Believe me there are countless among us who hate you much more than you can ever imagine. You come to our websites and lecture us as if you are Scandinavia. Dont try to lecture us until at least 50 percent of your population have access to proper latrines and you cease to be home to the worlds hungriest people.
Believe me, the feeling is mutual.. and talking of economies and infrastructure.. u know where u stand, if not, get educated.
Exactly, we know where we stand. We have no delusions of being a superpower and we dont claim to be shining.
Well said Imran. Indians deserve a tit for tat response only. Pakistan Zindabaad
Yes I can understand your very “positive” attitude. I have seen the same in India as well – people both the countries of your ilk spend time hating. As somebody said – give love a chance!!
Recent data from UN and from within Pakistan suggests percentage-wise there are more poor in Pakistan than India. Poverty is increasing in Pakistan, while its decreasing in India.
Within a few years, your type of comment will look thoroughly outdated.
PAKISTANI REPOTERS /POLITICAIANS ARE VERY IGNORANT WHAT INDIA IS DOING ON GROUND RIGHT NOW TO HURT PAKISTAN ECNOMICALLY/ETC.FOR EXAMPLE BUILDING DAMS/RESORVIORS ON WESTERN RIVERS IN VOILATION OF TREATIES–INDIANS WATCH THEIR ITERESTS AND MORE–PAKISTANIS ARE IGNORANT ALLTHEIR ENERGIES HAVE BEEN DIVERTED TO BOMB BLASTS-PEOPLE IN POWER ARE BUSY FILLING THR KITTY
To Shaq: In my opinion you erred a bit — you all are PEACE loving muslims… First you divided India, then you divided your own country – Bangladesh, now may be Insahallah some more parts Baloochistan etcs…
Muslims ruled this country yes that was unfortunate.. but we are thankful to Brits who kept nonsense out of our country India atleast by dividing it in two …
@Pratik: I think you haven’t read history. Pakistan lost Bangladesh because of Indian activities and same game is in attempt by India. I have 10 years of experience with multinationals and I have found Indians are not willing to believe that fight between India and Pakistan was actually made by their old rulers so that they can sell their businesses and get their interest success very easily. Agree with me or not if Pakistan and India becomes friend which is possible(which people of Pakistan and few Indians as well are trying) then these possible friends can invest on education, health, investment. People mainly politicians and foreign powers who are benefiting will create problems and we have to understand. Open your eyes and think how you can play your role as well….
And you guys need to stop thinking beyond Mumbai.
Sure if the culprits on both sides are brought to a fair trail as well for all the terrorist activities.
Probably people like Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru could foresee this and did not try too much to stop the division of India.
Maybe if the indians stop blaming the whole nation of Pakistan and lebelling ALL of us as terrorist, there might be friendship from Pakistan as well. The continuous mantra of ‘everybody in pakistan is a terrorist’ and ‘everybody in pakistan is responsible for mumbai’ simply adds fuel to the fire. Alienating Pakistan at the international level doesn’t help your cause either. The indian mentality of dominating the whole region will result in more enemies than friends. Relationship at the diplomatic level is already in a bad shape, but common indians blaming Pakistanis left and right for every single thing, and then expecting a pleasant response from the other side is just a sweet dream that they are having.
Maybe if the Indians stop blaming the whole nation of Pakistan and labeling ALL of us as terrorist, there might be friendship from Pakistan as well.
.
Not likely.
Replace India with ” the whole world” and the comment is true..maybe its not the world but Pakistan that needs to change
There is still a big misunderstanding in the minds and heads of the indians, so let me clear this: pakistan is not a part or india and never was, when the british empire left the subcontinent, pakistan was created as a country first on 14th august 1947, while india was created one day later, that means, that india was created out of pakistan, and that is true, my second point proves that: b4 the british empire entered the subcontinent muslims were the rulers of the subcontinent and not hindus that proves that in fact the whole area which is called india today, belongs to pakistan, but since pakistanis r peaceloving muslims, they only kept a small part of the subcontinent for them and donated the rest to the hindus bhikaris….please all indians, always keep this in mind b4 u guys talk sh….. about pakistan, because we r ur BAPPS, and u should not use abusive and negative language towards ur BAAPS..that would be bad mannered… got it ? good
Well said Shaq.
This is why what you are now and you will be forever. Begging for money from around the world for survival but talk in lengths.
Mass Hypnosis. Peace loving Muslim is an oxymoron.
Who ruled India before Mughals? Were Mughals Pakistani (or belong to the part, which is currently Pakistan)? Rulers comes and go……,
LOL!!… talk bout delusions!..
Please take a look at maps of sub-continent drawn before August 1947 and see what is written on the maps. Plenty of them are available on internet
When Pak got independence on 14th Aug, was the whole of India handed over to Pakistan at independence? No, as only the territory marked by Cyril Radcliffe of muslim dominated areas were handed over to Jinnah as Pakistan. The remaining area remained with British for another day until it was handed over to India to become India. So, what was carved out of India was Pakistan and not India out of Pakistan. I hope it must become clear to you now before you repeat it else where.
By reading comments if feels like being on youtube and not on dawn. But its fun, Keep on fighting dudes.
my personal opinion is no never. (plz dont)
i think pakistani muslims are not comfortable with others . they dont have capablity to think beyond thier religion. selfless friendship is far frm them. they use to blame religion. if they are thinking about friendship it means they are thinking about next plans to de-stabilize india. whatever happened in past is lesson to world that dont ever believe on pakistan and US under any circumstances. they are killing innocent pashtuns and baloch to show the world that they are acting against terrorism.
they are ethical liers & we dont wanna be friend with liars. read some books about ur country and its history”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"
“i think Pakistani Muslims are not comfortable with others . They don’t have capability to think beyond their religion.”
Would agree about the unfortunate and not well educated Muslims. They are like policemen who band together because no one likes a cop.
Do you understand why no one likes cops? People do not like cops because cops are never wrong.