Letter To The Representatives Of Political Parties In India By Aaghaz-e-Dosti
By Aliya Harir
03 April, 2014
Countercurrents.org
To,
The representatives of the Political Parties of India,
We, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, are a group of students and young professionals, working for Indo-Pak peace on both sides of the border.
It has not been too long ago that the government in Pakistan underwent a successful democratic transition following the 2013 elections. Since then, the much fastening in the Indo-Pak ties has been witnessed. Prior to the last elections, Pakistan, a land of tremendous blessings, was at a crossroads. Our fledgling democracy was very fragile. Nothing seemed right, and we counted days to help bring hope back into our lives and we are in fact heading towards it. As part of our Indo-Pak friendship initiatives, Aaghaz-e-Dosti had written a letter to political parties in Pakistan last year requesting them to make friendly policies with Pakistan.
With the general elections eminent in Republic of India, Aaghaz-e-Dosti Pakistan calls on all the Political Parties to breathe ‘the spirit of peace, love and friendship’ into the daily lives of all South Asians particularly the Indians and Pakistanis.
As we reflect over the long shared years of Indo-Pak history, it is clear that we the inhabitants of the Indian sub-continent are the most peace loving people of the planet, everyone came here and tried to occupy us but we did not go and occupy anyone else’s lands or properties. Over the last 67 years, India and Pakistan parted ways over the issues that in those times should have importance. It should be possible to maintain those differences without any loss of mutual regard. Indo-Pak relations since partition witness ups and down, every now and then and both the countries have been playing their part to set this right. While rest of the world has moved on in every aspect, we for some reasons are long left with weathering attacks from each other.
It is overwhelming to note that, the representatives of the political parties in India, for the elections-2014, are seeking to work to meet India’s domestic, regional and global challenges through a common nation building vision, shared values, shared goals, best strategic international relationships, and alliances nurtured by visionary leadership. It would actually heed towards a peaceful and more vibrant India. Unfortunately for same strange reasons, the election campaigning has witnessed an indirect stimulation of the Indo-Pak divide as an election strategy for victory (ref: social media). This is supposedly the ulterior motive behind all the political machinations. Yet, the last 67 years have conclusively proved such things are leading us to no good where but to racial violence and a more dangerous society. We already have paid a huge price for it in the form of intolerance and loss of respect and credibility in each other’s eyes. Living in the past has not yet led us to a prosperous future.
An undeniable fact is: Indo-Pak has the same historical-cum-cultural patterns, the “Indian cultural” pattern that has developed in a context ranging for more than a thousand years. There are great stories of peaceful coexistence and harmony during this vast historical span. The same can be revived today in this evolved context. Although evolution in the context has eventually led us to be two separate countries but the tradition of harmony still can keep us similarly integrated while respecting the existence of both the countries. The global context has evolved too, the same time. As a response to the demands of global context, even many blood thirty states have come closer in cooperative mood, so why not India and Pakistan!
Aaghaz-e-Dosti calls on all politicians to remember that democracy is about the people and it is to no lie that every person on earth desires peace. The people of both sides are not interested to go back and revise the chapters of the chaotic and unwanted 67 years of rivalry, cold war, bloodshed and unwanted LOC causalities, neither they are unconcerned to the future of the two countries, in fact common person of each country (Aam Admi) aspires to live a harmonious relationship, unless he is dissuaded by any nasty politician to drive their motives. The stressed history has given nothing, rather has taken away the measureless progressive opportunities. Do we need a half century more to realize the devastation? A sane person would say “no”, the time has come to act sagaciously. Sagacity is to be “cooperative”.
Regardless of believers in Allah, Ishwar, and God or in none, we are all human beings who are also entitled to a just and dignified life, a promise of the state. It is high time that we should put an end to racism. It is time to find effective solutions to strengthening Indo-Pak ties. It is time to end our indifferences and forge a ‘we are same’ conversation about our mutual development and unity.
Aaghaz-e-Dosti requests you to make better relations with Pakistan as a part of your election campaign.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely:
Aliya Harir, Islamabad, Pakistan
Convener-Aaghaz-e-Dosti-Pakistan
Founder-The Catalyst, Pakistan
For any query in India, contact with Devika Mittal (Convener-Aaghaz-e-Dosti-India at 9582129927)
Comments are moderated