Distances that remain: Key Indian dignitaries remain absent from closing peace session

Bilawal becomes subject of discussion at the conference on a language he is yet to master.

KARACHI: The last of the numerous sessions of the seventh International Urdu Conference 2014 culminated in the absence of most of the invited speakers from both sides of the border.

“The on-going political tiff on the borders forced our guests to bow out of their commitment,” said Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, president Ahmed Shah, explaining the absence of Javed Akhtar and other Indian guests. He told The Express Tribune that Akhtar had committed to attend the conference and had also scheduled a book launch at the moot. However, Shah added, only eight participants managed to obtain visas for Pakistan.

‘Problems of peacekeeping in the region’ was the subject of discussion. Panellists only touched certain aspects of the vast topic and engaged in a few exuberant moments, much to the delight of the audience.

From the original list of announced participants, only litterateur Iftikhar Arif was present. He was joined by a quick makeshift panel that failed in making the discussion fruitful and interesting. Columnists Masood Ashar and Raza Ali Abidi, playwright Noorul Huda Shah and Oxford University Press managing director Ameena Saiyid shared the stage with Arif.

The only guest who was able to break through the visa restrictions was writer Obaid Siddiqui. The ethos of the entire session revolved around the rejection of the predominant narrative of cross-border rivalry. Siddiqui said that politicians are afraid of speaking the truth and talk for public consumption only. “Neither can you take Kashmir from us nor can we take it from you.”

Siddiqui noted that the Indian media paints a horrific picture of Pakistan’s intentions and there remain ‘elements’ on both sides that do not want peace.

Taking his cue from Siddiqui, Ashar identified an entire class in both the countries that breathes fire for each other. “Political turmoil in Pakistan has created a vacuum for gimmicks,” he said, pointing towards the recent spate of fiery statements following Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s claim about Kashmir. It was interesting to see that Bilawal became the subject of discussion at a conference about a language he is yet to master.

Nevertheless, the speakers noted the significance of Urdu in entwining the neighbouring countries’ subcultures and people. While Shah’s buoyant one-liners managed to keep the show lively, the only time the rather disappointed crowd came to life was when Arif spoke of ‘neo-imperialism’ and the ‘great game of world powers’.

“The flashpoint has expanded in the region,” he said. “The indoctrination of capsuled ideas on both sides has allowed more players on the checkerboard.”

Huda reminded the audience that we need to come out of self-denial and rectify our issues before articulating conspiracy theories.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2014.