The appeal calls for a new chapter in South Asian relations — one built on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect rather than suspicion and confrontation
NEW DELHI — A group of 117 prominent citizens from India and Pakistan has issued a joint open letter urging Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif to end decades of hostility between the two nations. Despite being the ideal option otherwise, it remains an uphill task in this case, with ground realities complicating prospects of meaningful talks.
The appeal, signed by intellectuals, activists, and public figures, calls for a new chapter in South Asian relations — one built on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect rather than suspicion and confrontation.
From India, the appeal was signed by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, RJD MP Manoj Jha, and AJUP leader Humayun Kabir.
Signatories from the Pakistani side include former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, National Assembly member Isphanyar Bhandara, and nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy.
The appeal emphasises the shared cultural, historical, and human ties between India and Pakistan. It highlights how ordinary citizens on both sides suffer from the fallout of strained relations: restricted trade, limited cultural exchange, and the constant shadow of conflict.
The signatories argue that peace is not just a lofty ideal but a practical necessity for economic growth, regional stability, and the well-being of millions.
The Modi government in India has consistently emphasised national security, particularly after incidents like the Pulwama attack and the subsequent Balakot strikes.
The 2025 Pahalgam attack was a tragic incident where 26 Indian tourists were shot down near Pahalgam in Kashmir.
Such attacks happened despite Prime Minister Modi’s occasional gestures of peace and goodwill. During his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014, Modi invited all heads of state from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), including Pakistan’s then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Sharif accepted and attended the ceremony in New Delhi, marking the first time a Pakistani leader had participated in such an event.
The invitation was widely interpreted as Prime Minister Modi’s attempt to “turn over a new leaf” in India-Pakistan relations, signalling openness to dialogue despite earlier attacks.
But within Pakistan, Sharif faced criticism, with the powerful military establishment reportedly viewing the gesture with caution, reflecting the broader pattern of civilian initiatives being undermined by security concerns.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated after the January 2016 Pathankot attack and subsequent militant strikes, forcing India to harden its stance, demanding Pakistan take concrete action against terror groups before any dialogue. — With IANS inputs
