September 21: Kashmiri schoolchildren mark World Peace Day

The schoolchildren offered special prayers for durable peace in conflict zones across the world.

MIRPUR (AJK):

While violent protests raged across the country schoolchildren in Azad Jammu and Kashmir marked the International Day of Peace – which is celebrated around the world on September 21.

Kashmiri schoolchildren celebrated the day by staging a grand walk at the Line of Control in Neelam Valley district to press India and Pakistan to maintain ceasefire on the LoC and ensure peace through dialogue.

The schoolchildren also offered special prayers for durable peace in conflict zones across the world.

The children carried placards bearing slogans, “We want Peace and Not War”; “War Costly and the Peace free of Cost” and “We seek books, not bombs”.

School principal Shafqat Hussain, educationist Maulana Tayyeb and others called upon the international community to perform their due role for the early peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

They said that since Kashmir has always been the stumbling block in the way of cordial relations between India and Pakistan, the lingering issue must be resolved immediately.

Radio stations in Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Tararkheil aired special programs highlighting the importance of the day.

The World Peace Day, as it is unofficially known, is observed every year across the globe under the aegis of the United Nations to highlight the importance of permanent peace across the globe.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.