For peace: Pakistan, India urged to cease fire

SAFMA passes resolution expressing its concern over the escalation of violence

LAHORE: The South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) on Friday appealed to the governments of Pakistan and India to silence guns on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and international border and strictly observe the ceasefire  greement signed in 2003. The SAFMA, an organisation with representation of SAARC member states, passed a resolution expressing its concern over the escalation of violence on the border and the LoC. It expressed its dismay over the role of media in both countries in fanning jingoism while forgetting that people suffer on both sides due to the ongoing border conflict. The resolution urged the media to recognise that “bullets can’t bring peace”. It called upon both countries to refrain from further aggression. It lamented the loss of innocent lives, destruction of property and displacement of people living on both sides of the border.It praised Malala Yousufzai and Kailash Satyarthi from India for winning the Nobel Peace prize. The resolution appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to aim for Nobel Peace Prize by showing greater political will and statesmanship to peacefully resolve differences. It urged them to set Pakistan and India on the road of a shared destiny of peace and cross-border cooperation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2014.