SRINAGAR: More than 100 prominent citizens from India and Pakistan, including senior political leaders, former diplomats, academics, journalists, activists and retired officials, have jointly appealed to the Prime Ministers of the two countries to initiate a comprehensive process of dialogue, restore diplomatic relations and revive people-to-people, trade and transport links in South Asia.
In a joint appeal dated June 30 and addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the signatories said the two neighbouring countries must take “meaningful and sustained steps towards restoring peace, normalcy, dialogue and cooperation” in the region.
The appeal, coordinated by Centre for Peace and Progress Chairman OP Shah, comes amid continuing strain in bilateral relations and argues that prolonged hostility has imposed high social, economic and human costs on nearly one-fifth of humanity living in the two countries.
“We respectfully request you to listen to the aspirations of common people and choose engagement over isolation, dialogue over hostility and cooperation over confrontation,” the appeal states.
The signatories said a large proportion of the population of both countries comprises young people whose opportunities and future continue to be affected by the absence of normal relations.
“The people of both countries deserve a future defined by peace, development, connectivity and cooperation, rather than perpetual mistrust and confrontation,” the appeal said, adding that sustained engagement remains the only viable path to resolving differences and building a stable and prosperous South Asia.
The appeal outlines a series of confidence-building measures beginning with the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.
It calls for the reinstatement of High Commissioners in New Delhi and Islamabad and the resumption of normal visa services for citizens.
The signatories have also urged both governments to reopen a structured bilateral dialogue covering all outstanding issues, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir. The appeal specifically refers to revisiting the framework negotiated between 2004 and 2007 and advocates measures towards demilitarisation and de-escalation while addressing the legitimate security concerns of both countries.
The document also seeks renewed efforts to reconnect divided families and societies by easing travel restrictions and facilitating exchanges among students, academics, journalists, artists, businesspersons and civil society organisations.
The appeal recommends restoring normal commercial relations by reopening trade channels and reviving Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) or equivalent non-discriminatory trade arrangements.
Stressing the importance of reconnecting people divided by decades of political tensions, the appeal seeks easier travel and greater interaction among families, students, academics, journalists, artists, businesspersons and civil society organisations. It says increased people-to-people contact would help rebuild trust between the societies of the two countries.
The document also advocates the restoration of normal trade relations, reopening of commercial channels and promotion of greater regional economic cooperation. It argues that stronger economic engagement would contribute to shared prosperity and strengthen regional stability.
Besides, the signatories have urged the governments to revive suspended transport and communication links, including reopening the Attari-Wagah land border for trade and travel, restoring the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Delhi-Lahore bus services, restarting the Samjhauta Express and Thar Express train services, opening the Kargil-Skardu route and allowing commercial overflights to reduce travel time and improve connectivity.
The appeal also emphasises the role of religious and cultural exchanges in fostering goodwill. It seeks the reopening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and proposes facilitating access to Sharada Peeth in Pakistan-administered Neelam Valley for Kashmiri Pandits and other pilgrims. The signatories also call for easier access to religious and cultural heritage sites on both sides of the border and greater promotion of pilgrimage tourism.
Highlighting the importance of free flow of information, the appeal urges both governments to remove restrictions on media organisations, news channels and digital platforms, permit journalists to travel and work freely across the border, and encourage professional exchanges between media organisations to counter misinformation and improve public understanding.
The signatories said these measures would improve regional connectivity while helping reunite families separated across borders.
The Indian signatories include National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, Rajya Sabha member Prof. Manoj Jha, former RAW chief AS Dulat, former Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, senior Shia cleric Aga Syed Hassan Mosavi, former Union Minister Prof. Saifuddin Soz, former legislator Muzaffar Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, journalist Rita Chakrabarti, activist Sandip Pandey, writer Apoorvanand, peace activist Lalita Ramdas and several other academics, journalists, retired officials and civil society representatives.
The Pakistani signatories include former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former Foreign Secretary Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, former diplomat Shamsher Ahmed Khan, journalist Imtiaz Alam, human rights activist Sheema Kirmani, journalist Beena Sarwar, physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy, artist Salima Hashmi, former senator Farhatullah Babar, lawyer Faisal Siddiqui, security analyst Aamir Rana, academic Moonis Ahmar, educationist A.H. Nayyar, along with a large number of lawyers, journalists, academics, artists and civil society members.
Concluding the appeal, the signatories said their initiative should not be viewed as support for any particular political position.
“This appeal is not an endorsement of any political position. It is a call to place the welfare, aspirations and future of nearly two billion people above conflict, confrontation and division,” the document states.
It adds that peace, dialogue and cooperation remain the surest path towards a stable, prosperous and secure South Asia.
