Pakistan

Aisam calls for India peace match

Aisam writes to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani calling for "tennis for peace."

Afp April 14, 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan tennis star Aisamul Haq Qureshi has resumed calls for a peace match on the Indian border to foster reconciliation efforts between the two South Asian rivals.

Qureshi, whose doubles pairing with Indian star Rohan Bopanna has been dubbed the "Indo-Pak Express", wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani calling for "tennis for peace."

The star's father Ihtesham said that Aisam had made the request as a "unique effort to promote peace".

Qureshi and Bopanna, currently 17th in the ATP world doubles rankings, made headlines around the world when they reached the final of last year's US Open.

"They floated the idea after the US Open. We hope Pakistan will take the initiative," said Qureshi.

Unveiling the idea last year, the pair said they wanted a net strung across the Wagah border crossing, as part of a "Stop War Start Tennis" campaign.

Qureshi last year said the International Tennis Federation and Peace and Sport, a charity run by Prince Albert of Monaco, supported the idea and had also written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

COMMENTS (23)

Adnan | 13 years ago | Reply @e: The only solution if JIHAD for Kashmir. Let's fight out for Kashmir. This is the only thing that India understands. Remember when our forces and were people making inroads in the 1947 War, it was india who screamed and brought this issue to the United Nations. SO I once again say..JIHAD is the only answer.

Vinayak | 13 years ago | Reply It is good to have sporting exchanges. But, I think things such as joint research, academic exchanges, cultural exchanges, would be much much better.

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Adil | 13 years ago | Reply @e: Hamid Karzai couldn't control anything on his own in his own country and Pakistan is his favourite punching bag at times. Once he was also talking about attacking Pakistan but we all know how strong he is. These days Hillary Clinton along with Karzai wants to have talks with Talibans too. @ Other Indians here Wasn't it CIA that funded the so-called Mujahideen back in 1980s? Aren't Talibans their own creation? Why do many people ignore such important facts when they blame Pakistan for all the trouble round the globe? Many Indians would call Pakistan the sole or main reason for international terror but I just want to ask few crucuial questions: 1) Suppose if Pakistan vansihes on World Map,will it be any better for people living on Earth? In other words, no act of terror or war will take place. Isn't it? 2) Was Pakistan created when World War 1 and 2 took place? 3) Was Hitler a Pakistani? 4) Who is responsible for the massive killings in Middle East esp. Iraq and Palestine? Pakistan? 5) Was it Pakistan who spit on the face of humanity by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki affecting their future generations too? I keep on quoting Dr. Zakir Naik (an Indian, by the way) who clearly said that presently USA is the greatest terrorist nation on the planet. And he has all facts to back it. And till now no Indian has come forward to prove me(or Naik) wrong.

Somebody | 13 years ago | Reply I love how the Indians on this article don't want to mak peace. Goodness me, 1 billion people live yet 750 million live in utter poverty. I can go on and on of the shortcomings of India, same way Indians talk about Pakistan. Instead of doing that, why dont we just do what Aisam is proposing to do?

e | 13 years ago | Reply @Nitin Mehta: And Nitin, what about Pakistan's role in Afghanistan? Their Premier, Ahmed Karzai, has gone on record lambasting Pakistan for it's needling interference & lauded India for its constructive work towards Afghan development. This is the difference for all to see - while one nation thrives on manufacturing, breeding & exporting terrorism, the other believes in helping others get back on the track of development and progress.

Ducky | 13 years ago | Reply Aisam youre just wasting your time man. -shrug-

ms. opinionated | 13 years ago | Reply Good initiative!

M.Asad | 13 years ago | Reply Ignore pak and pakistanis...

Nitin Mehta | 13 years ago | Reply @Saad Bin Shahid: first clean your own backyard, then point fingers at others - pakistan is equally or more guilty of the brutality and cruelty in Balochistan than India with Kashmir. Your human rights record, as put forth by the US state department, is one of the worst in the world. I am not saying that India's record is clean, but my point here is - if you live in glass houses....

kailash sethy | 13 years ago | Reply I think it better to have good relation with a tougher competitor like China than with violent cultured people of Pakistan. India will become more violent if we make friendship with Pakistan in the same way Pakistan became more violent and horrible place to live in when it made its border free with Afghanistan and became a brotherly country with Afghanistan..

Somebody | 13 years ago | Reply @Sarah Wow, and I thought Indians were peace-loving and open-minded invdividuals. Yet the comments by Indians on this article reveals otherwise..how come?

Ducky | 13 years ago | Reply @Sarah: Lol. Please banish this newspaper as well since it originates in Pakistan and promotes an extremist ideology. That's the first step. Good luck riding your high horse. :)

maryam | 13 years ago | Reply @Sarah: wow i have no issue withe the fact of banning any pakistanis what so ever ur decision, but i do take offense for calling all us pakitanis terrorists.

Sarah | 13 years ago | Reply India should ignore anything and everything that originates in pakistan. Just ignore calls for talks, cricket, movies, people to people contact. There should absolutely zero visas issued to pakistanis. This is the only way to love with a terrorist neighbor.

rgg | 13 years ago | Reply Oh please. Tell this guy to give this kind of melodramatic nonsense a rest

Rao Amjad Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Excellent news! Hopefully the political and bureaucratic leadership on both sides will support this hugely important initiative and civil society organizations will be front and center in seeing this game to fruition. Thank you Aisam and Rohan. More power to you!

Nasir | 13 years ago | Reply Peace, trade, sports between Ind-Pak is fragile until the core issue of Kashmir is resolved with commitment and open mind from both sides.

Paras Vikmani | 13 years ago | Reply @ Saad keep dreaming abt kashmir

LOL | 13 years ago | Reply @ Saad - this is the problem. For Pakistan, everything is about Kashmir. Pakistanis want a "referendum" for people in Indian Kashmir but God forbid people in the Northern Areas (who don't have any rights due to Federal Rule) and POK get to vote. Get over it. Kashmir isn't going anywhere. Make the LOC the International Border and the Indian military should demilatarize Kashmir and let it prosper.

Ayesha | 13 years ago | Reply cannot wait!!!!

Ron(Indian) | 13 years ago | Reply Who is he?

Arijit Sharma | 13 years ago | Reply Aisamul Haq Qureshi - word of advise, stick with Tennis, do not get onto this peace band-wagon. You will lose whatever following you have in India. You are welcome to visit anytime, though.

Saad Bin Shahid | 13 years ago | Reply This is of-course a great step towards peace, but the major stone in peace process is 'Kashmir' every kid believe "Kashmir ke azaadi tak -- jang raha ge jang raha ge." Hope this process speed up, and the people of both countries come closer... and stop the brutality and cruelty in 'Kashmir'

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