कौन थे डॉक्टर आई ए रहमान, जो अपने मानवीय दृष्टिकोण के कारण दुनियाभर में थे चहेते

By: Ravi Nitesh | 

Published at: https://janjwar.com/world/pakistan-human-rights-advocate-ia-rehman-ravi-nitesh-comment-742608 

जनज्वार। आई ए रहमान अब नहीं रहे। 12 अप्रैल को वो इस दुनिया को छोड़कर कहीं और चले गए पर उनके जाते ही संवेदनाओं का जो सैलाब उमड़ा, उसने दिखा दिया कि इंसानियत और इंसानी अधिकारों के लिए दिल से और निरपेक्ष भाव से काम करने वालों के लिए सरहद, धर्म-जाति या क्षेत्र की दीवारें सचमुच ख़त्म हो जाती हैं। पाकिस्तान के रहने वाले रहमान साहब के लिए सबसे अधिक संवेदनाएं पाकिस्तान के बाद उसके पड़ोसी मुल्क भारत और तमाम और देशों से सामाजिक कार्यकर्ताओं, मानवाधिकार में यक़ीन रखने वाले लोगों और कई प्रख्यात व्यक्तियों द्वारा आना और कई संगठनों, संस्थानों द्वारा उनकी याद में कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया जाना वाकई में एक मिसाल है।

भारत और पाकिस्तान के बँटवारे से भी पहले 1 सितम्बर 1930 को डॉक्टर रहमान का जन्म पलवल (हरियाणा) में हुआ था। पलवल के मॉडल हाईस्कूल से पढाई के बाद वो अलीगढ वकालत की पढाई के लिए गए, लेकिन फिर भारत पाकिस्तान का बँटवारा हुआ और रहमान साहब का परिवार नवम्बर 1947 में पाकिस्तान चला गया। बताते हैं कि उनके पिता वकील थे और भारत से विस्थापित होकर पहले पाकिस्तान के शुजाबाद और फिर बाद में उनका परिवार लाहौर में रहने लगा। शायद विस्थापन और उस वक़्त के बँटवारे की यादें रहमान साहब के लिए हमेशा एक ऐसी विषय वस्तु के रूप में काम करती रहीं, जिसने रहमान को सामजिक मुद्दों, न्यायप्रियता, बराबरी और अन्य मानवाधिकारों के करीब बनाये रखा। रहमान शुरुआत में मूलतः एक पत्रकार थे और बाद में एक सामजिक राजनीतिक कार्यकर्ता के रूप में वो हमेशा मानवधिकारों के पक्ष में खड़े रहे।

1970 के दौरान पूर्वी पाकिस्तान (अब बांग्लादेश) में हो रहे मानवाधिकार उल्लंघन के खिलाफ खड़े होने की बात हो या फिर ज़िआउल हक़ के वक़्त कट्टरता के खिलाफ खड़े होने की बात हो, रहमान हर जगह खड़े मिले। 1989 में वो पाकिस्तान टाइम्स नामक अखबार के मुख्य सम्पादक बने। उसी वक़्त अस्मा जहाँगीर के साथ मिलकर पाकिस्तान मानवाधिकार आयोग (ह्यूमन राइट्स कमीशन ऑफ़ पाकिस्तान-HRCP) की नींव रखी गयी और रहमान मानवाधिकारों के लिए अपनी आवाज़ बुलंद किये रहे। उनका ये विश्वास रहा कि भारत और पाकिस्तान के अच्छे सम्बन्ध ही दक्षिण एशिया में शांति और एकजुटता के आधार हैं। पाकिस्तान इंडिया पीपल्स फोरम फॉर पीस एंड डेमोक्रेसी के संस्थापक सदस्यों में रहे और साथ ही तमाम और संगठनों, संस्थाओं, अभियानों के रहनुमा भी।

रहमान साहब के लिए लोगों के बहोत कुछ लिखा, कुछ ने अपने अनुभव साँझा किये तो कुछ ने उनके चले जाने पर अपना दर्द। अमन की आशा की संपादक बीना सरवर ने लिखा कि कैसे रहमान साहब का जाना सबके लिए एक बड़ा नुकसान है। PIPFPD के महासचिव एम जे विजयन कहते हैं कि असल में दक्षिण एशियाई शान्ति आंदोलनों में से अधिकाँश या तो उनके साथ शुरू हुए या फिर उन्होंने ऐसे आंदोलनों को एक दिशा देने में सहयोग किया। प्रख्यात सामजिक कार्यकर्ता डॉक्टर सईदा हमीद ने कहा कि रहमान साहब का जाना ऐसा है जैसे ध्रुव तारे का चले जाना। मशहूर लेखक मोहम्मद हनीफ ने ज़िक्र किया कि कैसे एक बार जब रज़ा भट्टी ने न्यूज़लाइन के लिए लिखे गए रहमान साहब के पहले लेख के लिए एक चेक भेजा तो उन्होंने चेक को एक नोट के साथ वापिस भेजा, जिस पर लिखा था कि आप चेक देना शुरू कर दीजियेगा, जब आप अपने दस लाख बना लें।

हनीफ कहते हैं कि न्यूज़ लाइन दस लाख बना नहीं पाया, और रहमान साहब ने लिखना नहीं छोड़ा। ऐसे ही फ़ातिमा फैसल लिखती हैं कि कैसे जब एक बार उन्हें इस बात का निर्णय लेना था कि वो प्रतिष्ठित LUMS विश्वविद्यालय में नौकरी ज्वाइन करें या पाकिस्तान मानवाधिकार आयोग में काम करें तो उनके एक प्रोफेसर ने उनसे कहा कि HRCP में आई ए रहमान के साथ काम करने का अनुभव हर किसी को नहीं मिलता। नजम सेठी ने लिखा कि हमारे समय की रोशनी चली गयी। तमाम राजनीतिक दलों के प्रतिनिधियों जिनमे कुछ प्रमुख नाम मरयम नवाज़ शरीफ, बिलावल भुट्टो ज़रदारी, अहसान इक़बाल, शेरी रहमान, फ़रहतुल्लाह बाबर, शाह महमूद कुरैशी आदि है, ने भी अपनी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त की। भारत के नौ सेना प्रमुख रह चुके एडमिरल रामदास और प्रख्यात सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता ललिता रामदास भी रहमान साहब के करीबी लोगों में से थे और एक ख़ास बात और कि रामदास और रहमान दोनों को मेग्सेसे पुरस्कार साथ ही मिला था। एडमिरल रामदास ने बताया कि कैसे रहमान उम्मीदों से भरे एक इंसान थे और उन्हें हमेशा ये विश्वास रहा कि भारत और पाकिस्तान के आम लोग मिलकर बदलाव ला सकते हैं। ऐसे न जाने कितने लोगों के अनुभव हैं जो आई ए रहमान के साथ खुद को जोड़ पा रहे हैं और आज उनके चले जाने से खुद को अकेला महसूस कर रहे हैं।

बहुत से सम्मान और पुरस्कार से सम्मानित डॉक्टर रहमान प्रसिद्ध अंतरराष्ट्रीय न्यूरेम्बर्ग मानवाधिकार पुरस्कार और शांति के लिए रैमन मैग्सेसे पुरस्कार से भी सम्मानित किये जा चुके हैं, मगर पुरस्कारों की चमक उन पर कभी भारी नहीं हुई। रहमान साहब की खासियत ये भी थी कि वो इतने सहज स्वभाव के इंसान थे कि बच्चों से भी उतनी ही शिद्दत और उत्साह के साथ मिलते और बात करते थे जितना साथ काम करने वालों और अंतरराष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं से। 

कुछ साल पहले 2017 में लाहौर के फैज़ घर में (फैज़ घर दरअसल मशहूर शायर फैज़ अहमद फैज़ का ऐतिहासिक घर है ) हिंदुस्तान और पाकिस्तान के बच्चों के बीच एक दुसरे को भेजे गए पत्रों की आग़ाज़ ए दोस्ती अभियान द्वारा लगाई गयी एक प्रदर्शनी में उन्होंने बच्चों से खूब बात की और फिर डॉन अखबार में इस पर लिखे एक लेख में उन्होंने विस्तार से इस बारे में लिखा। उन्होंने लिखा कि लाहौर में ईस्टर के बाद हुए बम विस्फोट के बाद कैसे एक बच्चे ने अपने खत में लिखा कि वो सोचता था कि एक अच्छे खिलौने के साथ रहने वाला बच्चा किस्मत वाला है, लेकिन अब उसको लगता है कि किस्मत वाला बच्चा वो है जो सुबह स्कूल जाए और शाम को सलामत घर वापिस आ पाए। डॉक्टर रहमान ने लिखा कि आज दोनों मुल्कों में बच्चों और युवाओं के बीच आपसी संवाद और समझ को बढ़ाने की ज़रूरत है। 

एक मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता के रूप में पाकिस्तान में हो रहे मानवाधिकार उल्लंघन के खिलाफ वो लगातार डटे रहे। पाकिस्तान में अल्पसंख़्यकों के अधिकारों की बात हो या फिर सामाजिक समानता का मुद्दा, रहमान हमेशा आगे रहे। यही नहीं, पाकिस्तान से अलग भी दुनियाभर में चल रहे मुद्दों पर उनकी समझ और उसके प्रति मानवीय दृष्टिकोण की वजह से वो दुनियाभर में लोगों के चहेते बने रहे। 

कुछ दिनों पहले ही 25 मार्च की शाम आग़ाज़ ए दोस्ती अभियान के साथ 'बात तो करो' नामक कार्यक्रम के प्रथम संस्करण के अतिथि वक्ता की भूमिका में रहमान साहब ने लगभग आधे घंटे तक बातचीत की, जिसे कई लोगों ने ऑनलाइन देखा। इस बातचीत के दौरान उन्होंने आसान शब्दों में ये कहा कि पाकिस्तान और भारत के लोग एक दूसरे से जो संस्कृति, इतिहास और विरासत साँझा करते हैं वह दक्षिण एशियाई शान्ति कार्यक्रम का एक मजबूत आधार हो सकता है, जिस पर काम किये जाने की ज़रूरत है। 

डॉक्टर आई ए रहमान का जाना सिर्फ एक शान्ति एवं मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता का जाना नहीं है, बल्कि एक ऐसे इन्सान का जाना है जिसे बहुत से सामजिक कार्यकर्ता अपनी छत मानते थे। मेरी उनसे व्यक्तिगत मुलाक़ात कभी नहीं हो पायी पर ईमेल के जरिये कुछ बार संपर्क रहा। हालाँकि हमारे कई पाकिस्तानी दोस्त और आग़ाज़-ए-दोस्ती के सदस्य उनसे हमेशा मिलते रहे और उनकी उपस्थिति हमेशा कार्यक्रमों में बनी रही। रहमान हमारे बीच न भी रहे हों तो भी उनकी यादें पाकिस्तान, हिंदुस्तान और अन्य देशों के कार्यकर्ताओं के बीच हमेशा रहेंगी और उनको हौंसला देती रहेंगी। 

(लेखक भारत पाक दोस्ती अभियान आग़ाज़ -ए - दोस्ती के संस्थापक हैं और शांति, मानवाधिकार के विषयों पर स्वतन्त्र लेखन से जुड़े हैं।)

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When Indians Gathered To Offer Tribute To A Pakistani

Published : https://nayadaur.tv/2020/04/when-indians-gathered-to-offer-tribute-to-a-pakistani/ 

By: Ravi Nitesh

It is rare that Indians and Pakistanis consider someone as their own equally, but recently, Dr. Mubashir Hasan’s demise has brought this rare gesture where not only Pakistanis but even Indians too joined to offer him tribute.

Dr. Hasan was born in Panipat (Haryana, India) in 1922 and later migrated to Pakistan where he rose as an eminent political leader being a founding member of PPP and later Finance Minister in Govt. of Pakistan. He advocated peace and regional coordination and supported Indo-Pak Peace by heart.

When the people in Panipat heard the news of his demise, many who knew him became sad. Hali Panipati Trust (A local trust named upon renowned poet Altaf Hussain Hali) organized a memorial meeting to offer tribute and many joined in. Many other Indian progressive groups, individuals, and journalists wrote about him on social media and in newspapers. Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) issued a statement as a tribute to him. It looked like Dr. Hasan made people united by hearts even after his death. This tribute and memorial meeting was widely covered by local media. 

I never met him personally, but knew him as a stalwart through many friends who met him. Dr. Syeda Hameed (Syeda aapa) – a well known activist who also authored political biography of former Pakistani PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with title ‘Born to be hanged’ – also talked about him many times when I met her. She told about how she travelled to Lahore and met him several times.

The connection of Dr. Hasan with Panipat played an important role as people in Panipat still remembered the year 1997 (50 years after partition), when a 23 member Pakistani delegation reached India including Dr. Mubashir. They were hosted in Panipat by Dr. Nirmala Deshpande and their colleagues like Dr. Syeda Hameed and Ram Mohan Rai. This visit is still afresh in minds of people in Panipat who met the delegation members that time. Efforts of Dr. Nirmala Deshpande in organising such delegation visits were commendable and she motivated many activists to spread the message of peace among common people.

During their stay in Panipat, hosts in India arranged stay of Dr. Mubashir in the same house that he had lived once but left during partition. Mr. Rai described how Dr. Mubashir remembered names of many streets in Panipat even after so many years. He used to walk in old streets early morning and sometimes even knocked doors of houses that he knew.

He met with old friends and said ‘O yaara, kitthe ho? Twada purana yaar aaya hai’ (dear friends, where are you- your old friend is here). After these utterances, he and his friends would become emotional.

He was also full of humour and would extend an on spot reply. During another visit to Panipat in year 2008 on the occasion of Hali Mela, the then Chief Minister of Haryana and the then Vice President of India Dr. Hamid Ansari were on stage. Dr. Mubashir Hasan spoke that he is proud upon being a Panipati to which the then CM Hudda replied, ‘you are Panipati only’ and Dr. Hasan immediately responded, ‘then give me citizenship of Panipat’ while everyone was cheered up.

Very few people receive such ‘across the border’ respect. I had witnessed it also when Asma Jahangir left us and we all had gathered in Delhi on the call of PIPFPD. Similarly, when Kuldeep Nayar left the world, I read how people in Pakistan poured their tribute. People like Khushwant Singh and Kuldeep Nayar also got respect of having their ashes flown on the other side of border after their death. Dr. Nirmala Deshpande’s death brought people from many countries together and even her ashes were flown to rivers in South Asian countries. These are the real gestures these people received for their identity of being human first and their vocal speaking of such, irrespective of their other identities. Many amongst such people were those who had history on the other side of border.

Now after 72 years of partition, we are losing the generation who had kept memories and attached with other side while evoking emotions. During these seven decades, unfortunately, many events led us towards a poisonous atmosphere where it has become seditious to love the other side. But it doesn’t mean that everything ended as still many people are advocating for unity of hearts through demolition of walls of hatred. I remember that how during our Aaghaz-e-Dosti Yatra from Delhi to Wagah, even rural women came on road and extended support for peace and Aaghaz-e-Dosti. When asked why they supported, their reply was simple: ‘Because there is nothing in war and conflicts. We need proper food and living and not bloodshed. These conflicts should end.’

I know that most of the villages in Pakistan and India demand this and they deserve it too. Our governments must look prospects of peace in these voices to pave a way for a peaceful future.

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Hope for peace through students

Published: Daily Times 17 Feb 2020 / Ravi Nitesh
https://dailytimes.com.pk/559326/hope-for-peace-through-students/ 

If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children; and if they will grow up in their natural innocence, we won’t have to struggle; we won’t have to pass fruitless idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which consciously or unconsciously the whole world is hungering.” – Mahatma Gandhi

As the world is observing 150th year of Mahatma Gandhi, a person who is known for his ideas of truth and non-violence without fear, there is also need to look upon prevailing situation of present world, particularly the region from where he originally belonged- the Indian sub-continent. In fact, present day sub-continent is facing a time of crisis and it demands more and more ideas of people who advocated peace. Kashmir, which was once seen as ‘Ray of Hope’ by Gandhi, has recently faced severe restrictions of curfew, internet ban, arrests and house arrests and many are still under this fear. Borders are volatile and regularly taking lives of soldiers and civilians. Political relations between Pakistan and India are in bad taste and a TRP hungry media is fuelling lot many things with it.

In this time, talking peace is surely a difficult one, that also for India-Pakistan. But we know that there are always some light and we need to search for it and as Gandhi believed, we should learn from children. Pakistani and Indian students choose to paint for peace even in this time when the whole environment is filled with hatred and violence, suppression and attacks. These paintings are part of annual program of Aaghaz-e-Dosti initiative that mostly works with school students of Pakistan and India and also bring a peace calendar every year from selected paintings of both sides.

Students who painted a piece of paper with their brush can be interpreted through their beautiful paintings where they express desire for peace. Since the last eight years, these paintings are coming regularly to become part of a calendar where six paintings from each sides form 12 calendar months and reflects an everyday peace. School students who participate and submit their paintings are seem well aware about the ‘need’ and this is added with their own imagination. Paintings can be seen with Badshahi Misque and Tajmahal, Peace boats, barbed wires with students shaking hands, planting flowers and trees on border, Soldiers together shaking hands and hugging each other, birds flying above and to contemporary one like opening of Kartarpur corridor as symbol of peaceful gesture.

We need to recognise the need of future generation. Any child in these countries actually deserve a peaceful and safer future, free from violence and hatred. India and Pakistan, being two sovereign countries and strong stakeholders in South Asian region, should take positive steps to strengthen understanding and focusing on the way forward. These two countries have rich heritage, culture, history, natural resources, and talents in their own countries and if they decide to move together, there are ample scope of moving towards excellence.

Education is the key to ensure an informed and civilized society and students get affected through their environment and learn things and make an image about each other’s country and people. But whenever, they get opportunity to think it deeply and to think naturally, they come with their idea of peacebuilding. While involving students for such actions for peace, nothing new is being given to them, instead it is like exploring their own idea, the natural instinct for peace that we all, as human being, irrespective of our individual identity, carry.

These expressions are learning for others and a ray of hope in present times when despite not being able to meet or cross boundary, there are young voices to whom all the hatred propaganda and media portrayal cannot divert from the path of peace and we need to support all such actions for peace, wherever these are happening.

The writer is the founder of Aaghaz-e-Dosti which is an Indo-Pak friendship initiative. He Tweets at @ravinitesh and can be reached at ravinitesh@gmail.com

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India-Pakistan: Shared Heritage, Shared Future for a hatred free-violence free subcontinent

 South Asia — by Ravi Nitesh — December 3, 2018

https://countercurrents.org/2018/12/03/india-pakistan-shared-heritage-shared-future-for-a-hatred-free-violence-free-subcontinent/ 

Though political disputes could have been resolved politically without breaking human sentiments and emotions, but India and Pakistan could not do this during last 71 years. These political disputes have been made personal and resulted as loss of lives, of people, of soldiers and various kinds of misunderstandings, stereotypes and hatred that got developed in minds of people gradually on both sides. Though during all these years, many moments of solidarity, confidence measures and reconciliation also taken place including the most recent was opening of historic visa free Kartarpur corridor; however a sustained effort would be required for peace.

Now, after 71 years, besides governments, many efforts have been done by people also to break stereotypes and to remove hatred. The most effective tool to do that is to let people meet without restrictions, though due to difficult visa regimes it is difficult. Initiatives like Aaghaz-e-Dosti started connecting school students through their classroom connect program via video conferencing and it resulted as another most effective way to let people meet. It is experienced that even those who believe that the other side is ‘enemy’ transformed when they talked with the so called ‘enemy’. Our ‘enemy’ imagination (in terms of India/Pakistan) is limited till we meet them somewhere and we start understanding them. In fact, it is probably values and legacy of this land of India and Pakistan that taught a lot about tolerance, love, peace and non-violence through its diversity of languages, religions, cultures, thoughts and through eminent personalities, reformists, spiritual leaders. In these ways, both countries actually share a lot in culture, legacy, heritage and sacrifice. This special connection can definitely be a ground of shared future and peaceful co-existence.

Now, when both countries are 71 years old and majority of their population falls within range of 30 years, isn’t it a responsibility of our political leaders to take effective steps to resolve political disputes through political dialogues and meetings without any violence and hatred? We have seen many measures taken by governments in the granting of visa, boosting trade, start of bus and train services and these are effective mediums to believe that many more such steps would help more to people on both sides.

When Imran Khan’s party won largest numbers of seats in elections in Pakistan and he in his speech claimed that for peace, he will move two steps if India will move one step; it was welcomed, shared by millions of people, mostly by youths in India. The same positive vibes had happened in Pakistan when Indian PM landed there as surprise visit to the then PM of Pakistan. We must see that how effectively such positive statements bring happiness among people. Who wants war? Now when Kartarpur corridor was agreed and inaugurated on both sides to facilitate visa free crossings, it is a historic step in India-Pakistan relations and welcomed by millions of Pakistanis and Indians who have hope that situation would improve someday.

Similar positive environment and support was visible during Vajpayee-Musharraf time. Now, Vajpayee is no more but steps he had taken as CBMs are still relevant and working. Pakistan has shown a great solidarity through sending its official delegation to attend Vajpayee’s funeral. It was also a great move that few from cricket fraternity went to Pakistan to witness oath of Imran Khan. Such exchanges in recent times have shown scope that both nation-states may work closely to come out of despair and to pave a new path of mutual cooperation.

We must really strive for betterment of facilities and of status of our people. We must seek removal of poverty, unemployment, social insecurity, illiteracy, high mortality rate, poor healthcare and pollution as these are the real challenges before both nations. We must strive to fulfill dreams of makers of our nations, desires of present generations and need of future generations to make our nations more equal, more just, more peace loving. Can we dream and work together to make this sub-continent hatred free, violence free? Can we really promise it to our people? I believe that we can.

Ravi Nitesh is a youth activist and freelance writer. He can be found on twitter @ravinitesh

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Dialogue a must to prevent escalations along volatile India-Pakistan border

Published at: South Asia Monitor 

https://southasiamonitor.org/news/dialogue-a-must-to-prevent-escalations-along-volatile-india-pakistan-border/sl/27514  
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/dialogue-a-must-to-prevent-escalations-along-volatile-india-pakistan-border/ 

Despite an agreed ceasefire agreement, with SoPs, engagement at the political and diplomatic levels through dialogue is necessary to avoid any further escalation of violence along the border, writes Ravi Nitesh for South Asia Monitor

The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India re-affirmed their commitment last month to follow the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) ‘in letter and in spirit.’

This was a much desired outcome because there has been a manifold increase in ceasefire violations (CFVs) over the past few years. This ceasefire commitment came in the month of Ramzan, like in 2003, when Pakistan had announced a ceasefire across the Line of Control (LoC). India accepted that offer and both implemented the ceasefire along the International Border (IB) and LoC, even extending it till Siachen under the statesmanship of then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This time, however, violations were observed barely after 3-4 days of the commitment and incidents reported on both sides, in which people lost their lives.

Incidents of CFVs have dramatically increased along the LoC, with Indian claims of 860 incidents in 2017 and 908 incidents in the first five months of 2018, while Pakistan claims 1813 incidents in 2017 and 1321 incidents in 2018.

India reported 152 incidents in 2015, which increased in 2016 to 228 incidents of ceasefire violations. These incidents had come down to almost nil after the 2003 ceasefire was declared.

After 2014, CFV incidents have jumped and, particularly after the surgical strikes of 2016, increased to a point where not only soldiers of both sides, but civilians have faced the ruthless competition of guns and mortars. Civilians, as young as an eight month old child, have lost their lives.

According to reports available in India, around 12 civilians were killed in 2017 and 79 were injured. In 2012, four civilians died and, in 2013, no civilians were killed in CFVs.

Houses, schools have been damaged, crops destroyed and many villagers moved to makeshift camps. The Indian government is building bunkers for people living along the border and raising compensation amounts, but there can be no alternative to ensuring a stable and peaceful border.

It has been reported that 2018 is the first time heavy artillery has been used across the front lines, causing heavy damage on both sides.

As per the report of the Jammu & Kashmir government, there are 590 villages with a population of around 530,000 situated between 0 and five km from IB / LoC in five border districts of Jammu. Among these, 448 villages are considered as ‘vulnerable’ to CFVs.

Worried with the rising tide of incidents, people in border villages and civil society initiatives have appealed for peace. In March 2018, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an India-Pakistan Friendship Initiative, issued an appeal to the governments on both sides to restore peace along the border. This appeal was endorsed by civil society leaders, academicians and retired officers and diplomats of both sides.  

In response to a question in the Lok Sabha on April 3, 2018, India’s Minister of State in the Home Ministry said that a study group was formed under the chairmanship of the Special Secretary (internal security) to examine problems faced by the border population. This group had visited border villages in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts and recommended the construction of 14,460 bunkers (13,029 individual and 1,431 community bunkers), compensation as per NDRF norms and formation of two new border battalions for J&K police. In a separate estimate by the J&K government, 210,000 families were affected and 193 houses damaged between 2012 and 2014.

With the current commitment, both sides need to effectively operationalize the existing systems of hotlines, flag meetings and weekly dialogue between the DGMOs. The progress by both sides in recent days has the potential to pave the way to build trust and secure more agreements gradually.

Despite an agreed ceasefire agreement, with SoPs, engagement at the political and diplomatic levels through dialogue is necessary to avoid any further escalation of violence along the border. In the absence of these, both armies would continue to respond to each other in their own ways. Improved relations between India and Pakistan are necessary for a peaceful border and this can directly benefit victims of conflicts, which include soldiers and the border population of both sides.

(The author is Founder. Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pak Friendship Initiative. He can be contacted at ravinitesh@gmail.com)

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