AS an Indian student raised on tales of both camaraderie and conflict between Pakistan and India, I often wonder how much could be changed if young minds on both sides had the opportunity to share the same classroom, if only virtually.

Imagine discussing shared histories, exchanging ideas, and tackling the real issues that challenge peace in our comm-unities. Just picture it: youth united, learning not through borders, but through bonds.

When I think of students in Pakistan, I see faces not so different from the ones I come across in India — grappling with the same exams, career ambitions, and that universal quest to make sense of our rapidly changing world.

What if we could harness that common ground to create something truly colla-borative, like peer learning programmes focussed on regional challenges, such as climate resilience or digital literacy?

The air we inhale poses the same threat to our lungs as it does to yours. The weight of social media’s influence burdens our mental health just as it does yours.

Undoubtedly, when our histories are intertwined, why can we not unite to create an impact? Our hearts, after all, beat the same. Such initiatives would prepare us for our careers, and would offer something far more meaningful; the chance to see each other not as strangers, but as allies.

I believe the most profound peace treaties are signed in classrooms, not in conference rooms. Perhaps, it is time we let our generation be the bridge, as our hearts, trust me, are the same as yours.

Shreya Sharma
Jalandhar, India

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2024