KARACHI:
While the idea of encouraging people-interaction certainly appears to be the most significant element to build everlasting peaceful ties between India and Pakistan, it is apparent from the aggressive history of both nations that neither is willing to initiate peace without any strings attached. It is, however, imperative to build a platform where the people of both states can freely interact and communicate.
A successful cross-border understanding and friendship can be established by some prominent means such as promoting cross-sports, initiating education exchange programmes, forming active and participative economic activities, etc — the impacts of which will be strategically sustainable. People-contact would hopefully reduce or probably dismantle the stereotypes that have been formed within the general public of both sides, which inspire prejudice and hatred against each other. Most importantly, it would provide an opportunity for people to realise the significance and magnificence of their shared history. Such initiatives will also help in hammering down the much-exaggerated political agenda of both countries. The governments on both sides must proactively design policies which may establish an uninterrupted public interaction between both nations. If not, NGOs and other peace organisations must do the needful.
Fahad Khan
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2021.
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