Aman Ki Asha: The Indo-Pak Peace project
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Aman Ki Asha termed the noblest cause
By Umer Bhatti
LAHORE: Renowned journalist and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary General IA Rehman has termed Aman Ki Asha the noblest cause as it emphasises peace for the peoples of South Asia.
Talking exclusively to The News here on Wednesday, he said Aman Ki Asha was an effort for peace on both sides of the border which would ultimately bring about peace and harmony for the citizens of both India and Pakistan. He said many more initiatives were necessary for promoting friendship and trust between both the countries because welfare of their masses depended on peace. He said both India and Pakistan were prisoners of the history and that was the biggest reason they could not solve their disputes.
Rehman said injustice was preponderant in the united India before the partition which compelled the Muslims to strive for their separate homeland and the demand further aggravated the bitterness in relationship between Hindus and Muslims of the sub-continent. He said disputes had always been there, but the inability, from both sides, in solving them out made relations bitter, adding that dispute gave birth to hatred which started communalism in the region. The communalism further strengthened after the partition, he said.
The HRCP secretary general said at this point in time, both the sides should bury the hatchet and embark upon a new voyage of mutual development and prosperity through the initiative of Aman Ki Asha. He said remembering the past would only make the relations bitter so it would be wise to explore the new horizons of friendship between the two neighbours with Aman Ki Asha as the pioneer.
He said the Kashmir issue should not be kept aside by the Pakistani government but it should have a sane policy regarding the issue and the wishes of Kashmiris should be respected. He said he was certain that Aman Ki Asha would play a role for development of all kind on both sides of the border.
Rehman said masses on both sides of the border wanted peace and as many people as possible should join the Aman Ki Asha campaign and if possible he would also join it depending upon his availability. He said the drive would open new corridors of economic development in the both countries in general and in Pakistan in particular.
Aman Ki Asha termed the noblest cause
By Umer Bhatti
LAHORE: Renowned journalist and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary General IA Rehman has termed Aman Ki Asha the noblest cause as it emphasises peace for the peoples of South Asia.
Talking exclusively to The News here on Wednesday, he said Aman Ki Asha was an effort for peace on both sides of the border which would ultimately bring about peace and harmony for the citizens of both India and Pakistan. He said many more initiatives were necessary for promoting friendship and trust between both the countries because welfare of their masses depended on peace. He said both India and Pakistan were prisoners of the history and that was the biggest reason they could not solve their disputes.
Rehman said injustice was preponderant in the united India before the partition which compelled the Muslims to strive for their separate homeland and the demand further aggravated the bitterness in relationship between Hindus and Muslims of the sub-continent. He said disputes had always been there, but the inability, from both sides, in solving them out made relations bitter, adding that dispute gave birth to hatred which started communalism in the region. The communalism further strengthened after the partition, he said.
The HRCP secretary general said at this point in time, both the sides should bury the hatchet and embark upon a new voyage of mutual development and prosperity through the initiative of Aman Ki Asha. He said remembering the past would only make the relations bitter so it would be wise to explore the new horizons of friendship between the two neighbours with Aman Ki Asha as the pioneer.
He said the Kashmir issue should not be kept aside by the Pakistani government but it should have a sane policy regarding the issue and the wishes of Kashmiris should be respected. He said he was certain that Aman Ki Asha would play a role for development of all kind on both sides of the border.
Rehman said masses on both sides of the border wanted peace and as many people as possible should join the Aman Ki Asha campaign and if possible he would also join it depending upon his availability. He said the drive would open new corridors of economic development in the both countries in general and in Pakistan in particular.
Aman Ki Asha termed the noblest cause
Aman Ki Aasha need of the hour: HRCP
By Moayyed Jafri
LAHORE: The significance and responsibility of the ìAman Ki Aashaî (AKA) project has increased exponentially with the recent Indo-Pak relations at government levels leaving much to be desired.
This was stated by the Vice Chairperson (Punjab) of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Dr Mehdi Hassan, in an exclusive interview with The News. He said that the project was a much-needed initiative taken by major media groups at both sides of the border and the souring relationship between both the countries called for such dedicated efforts.
He said that the history of the two countries indicated that despite the bumpy relationships between their governments, people on both sides of the border were in favour of friendly ties between the neighbours.
He said that as both countries had democratic governments, thus, this public opinion should translate into policy-making of the two governments. He praised the efforts of Times of India and The Jang Group in identifying this channel to pursue both countries to resolving their differences. He said that peace and harmony between both the countries was of pivotal importance.
Aman Ki Aasha need of the hour: HRCP
By Moayyed Jafri
LAHORE: The significance and responsibility of the ìAman Ki Aashaî (AKA) project has increased exponentially with the recent Indo-Pak relations at government levels leaving much to be desired.
This was stated by the Vice Chairperson (Punjab) of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Dr Mehdi Hassan, in an exclusive interview with The News. He said that the project was a much-needed initiative taken by major media groups at both sides of the border and the souring relationship between both the countries called for such dedicated efforts.
He said that the history of the two countries indicated that despite the bumpy relationships between their governments, people on both sides of the border were in favour of friendly ties between the neighbours.
He said that as both countries had democratic governments, thus, this public opinion should translate into policy-making of the two governments. He praised the efforts of Times of India and The Jang Group in identifying this channel to pursue both countries to resolving their differences. He said that peace and harmony between both the countries was of pivotal importance.
Aman Ki Aasha need of the hour: HRCP
Burney lauds Aman Ki Asha initiative
RAWALPINDI: Ansar Burney, Advocate, former Federal Minister for Human Rights and Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust International, expressed his pleasure on the Indian government decision to once again offer hands of friendship to Pakistan.
He said that this decision of the Indian government would promote peace and prosperity in the region, says a press release. Ansar Burney, who is the Special Adviser to the United Nations on Human Rights, is playing a special and historic role in improvement of human rights in Asian and Gulf countries.
Burney also welcomed Aman Ki Asha, the peace initiative put forward by the Jang Group to bring Pakistan and India close, and hoped that this initiative would overcome terrorism and bring tranquillity to the area. He also lauded the statement of Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna to promote friendship with its neighbour Pakistan. He also termed Indian Interior Minster Chidambrams visit to Pakistan at the end of this month a step forward in this regard.
Burney said following meetings of ministers of both the countries, the expected meeting of Pak-India prime ministers in the month of April in Washington would also be an important event to promote Aman Ki Asha. He said that sincere Indo-Pak friendship was the only way to finish terrorism from the region.
The Ansar Burney Trust chairman also praised the role of the Jang Group, Geo TV and congratulated Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman on launching the initiative of Aman Ki Asha. He said that the February 7 expected visit of Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to New Delhi for the resumption of dialogue process was the proof of the success of Aman Ki Asha, started by the Jang Group, Geo.
Burney lauds Aman Ki Asha initiative
RAWALPINDI: Ansar Burney, Advocate, former Federal Minister for Human Rights and Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust International, expressed his pleasure on the Indian government decision to once again offer hands of friendship to Pakistan.
He said that this decision of the Indian government would promote peace and prosperity in the region, says a press release. Ansar Burney, who is the Special Adviser to the United Nations on Human Rights, is playing a special and historic role in improvement of human rights in Asian and Gulf countries.
Burney also welcomed Aman Ki Asha, the peace initiative put forward by the Jang Group to bring Pakistan and India close, and hoped that this initiative would overcome terrorism and bring tranquillity to the area. He also lauded the statement of Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna to promote friendship with its neighbour Pakistan. He also termed Indian Interior Minster Chidambrams visit to Pakistan at the end of this month a step forward in this regard.
Burney said following meetings of ministers of both the countries, the expected meeting of Pak-India prime ministers in the month of April in Washington would also be an important event to promote Aman Ki Asha. He said that sincere Indo-Pak friendship was the only way to finish terrorism from the region.
The Ansar Burney Trust chairman also praised the role of the Jang Group, Geo TV and congratulated Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman on launching the initiative of Aman Ki Asha. He said that the February 7 expected visit of Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to New Delhi for the resumption of dialogue process was the proof of the success of Aman Ki Asha, started by the Jang Group, Geo.
Burney lauds Aman Ki Asha initiative
Peace with equality
HOPE OF PAKISTAN HINDU COUNCIL
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
By Dr Ramesh Kumar Wankwani
Every war is followed by hopes of peace. Aman ki Asha is an effort for peace that provides such a hope, that will help ease tensions and prevent a third war between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. They have fought wars in the past, but this is not an option anymore. The current efforts to maintain harmony between them gives rise to hope that peace will eventually prevail.
The people of Pakistan and India truly appreciate the efforts initiated by the Jang Group of Pakistan and Times of India. We would like to convey this message to the rulers of both countries.
Pakistan Hindu Council keenly desires peace. This subcontinent is a land of sufis, saints and holy men. If efforts are made to promote peace, India’s concept of limited war can be restricted, which is what peace-loving people desire everywhere. The whole purpose is to prevent war and end conflict.
Someone has finally come forward and shown an interest in maintaining peace at a very public platform. We should not let slip this golden opportunity. We should understand that this is a message of peace, which was spread by sufi saints like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Baghat Kunkwar Ram, Baba Bullay Shah, Sufi Baba Ajmer Sharif and others. Now concrete steps need to be taken to attain the goal of peace at the earliest.
Media is known as the fourth pillar of the state. It can play a key role in generating awareness regarding hope for peace. The media in India and Pakistan have started efforts to promote peace. If these efforts fail, the future of people in both countries will be dark.
It is the need of the hour to understand the desire of people for peace and judge it accordingly. Before the partition of Pakistan and India, Hindus and Muslims lived together and brotherhood prevailed. Despite having separate identities and religions, they have much in common. Both nations lived peacefully together and expelled the British from the sub-continent through collective efforts.
Despite the division of the sub-continent, many things can make this region a region of peace. Pakistan and India are separate countries, but the people trust each other and love peace and brotherhood, and also respect each other’s geographical boundaries. Besides this, there are a large number of people from both sides who respect and follow the teachings of our sufis and saints.
India has a larger population, but its government should know that if the Times of India continues its efforts, peace is bound to prevail.
India has for long been committing a mistake in not maintaining peace in the region. As the bigger country, India will have to face bigger losses in case of war as Pakistan too is a nuclear power. India’s claim that it will fight a small scale or limited war is foolishness as wars only lead to destruction and devastation.
To give a realistic shape to the hope for peace, the first step is to create equality. If equality is established, then there will be no hurdle in the way of maintaining peace.
Despite the passage of 62 years, it seems that many Indians and Pakistanis have not accepted each other’s existence.
The main conflict between Pakistan and India is the Kashmir issue, which should be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri. Besides this, reduction in the arms race, and exchanges in the fields of tourism, culture, trade, sports, education, print and electronic media will help reduce tensions between the two countries. Such exchanges will also provide a suitable environment in maintaining peace. With frequent visits and meetings of intellectuals and authors of India Pakistan these wishes and hopes can materialise into reality.
The Pakistan Hindu Council desires that dialogue on vital issues should begin on the basis of equality. This will not only help in changing the scenario, but it will also have positive effects on this subcontinent.
Once again, heartiest congratulations to the Jang Group of Pakistan and Times of India for initiating efforts for peace in the region.
The writer is Patron, Pakistan Hindu council
HOPE OF PAKISTAN HINDU COUNCIL
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
By Dr Ramesh Kumar Wankwani
Every war is followed by hopes of peace. Aman ki Asha is an effort for peace that provides such a hope, that will help ease tensions and prevent a third war between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. They have fought wars in the past, but this is not an option anymore. The current efforts to maintain harmony between them gives rise to hope that peace will eventually prevail.
The people of Pakistan and India truly appreciate the efforts initiated by the Jang Group of Pakistan and Times of India. We would like to convey this message to the rulers of both countries.
Pakistan Hindu Council keenly desires peace. This subcontinent is a land of sufis, saints and holy men. If efforts are made to promote peace, India’s concept of limited war can be restricted, which is what peace-loving people desire everywhere. The whole purpose is to prevent war and end conflict.
Someone has finally come forward and shown an interest in maintaining peace at a very public platform. We should not let slip this golden opportunity. We should understand that this is a message of peace, which was spread by sufi saints like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Baghat Kunkwar Ram, Baba Bullay Shah, Sufi Baba Ajmer Sharif and others. Now concrete steps need to be taken to attain the goal of peace at the earliest.
Media is known as the fourth pillar of the state. It can play a key role in generating awareness regarding hope for peace. The media in India and Pakistan have started efforts to promote peace. If these efforts fail, the future of people in both countries will be dark.
It is the need of the hour to understand the desire of people for peace and judge it accordingly. Before the partition of Pakistan and India, Hindus and Muslims lived together and brotherhood prevailed. Despite having separate identities and religions, they have much in common. Both nations lived peacefully together and expelled the British from the sub-continent through collective efforts.
Despite the division of the sub-continent, many things can make this region a region of peace. Pakistan and India are separate countries, but the people trust each other and love peace and brotherhood, and also respect each other’s geographical boundaries. Besides this, there are a large number of people from both sides who respect and follow the teachings of our sufis and saints.
India has a larger population, but its government should know that if the Times of India continues its efforts, peace is bound to prevail.
India has for long been committing a mistake in not maintaining peace in the region. As the bigger country, India will have to face bigger losses in case of war as Pakistan too is a nuclear power. India’s claim that it will fight a small scale or limited war is foolishness as wars only lead to destruction and devastation.
To give a realistic shape to the hope for peace, the first step is to create equality. If equality is established, then there will be no hurdle in the way of maintaining peace.
Despite the passage of 62 years, it seems that many Indians and Pakistanis have not accepted each other’s existence.
The main conflict between Pakistan and India is the Kashmir issue, which should be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri. Besides this, reduction in the arms race, and exchanges in the fields of tourism, culture, trade, sports, education, print and electronic media will help reduce tensions between the two countries. Such exchanges will also provide a suitable environment in maintaining peace. With frequent visits and meetings of intellectuals and authors of India Pakistan these wishes and hopes can materialise into reality.
The Pakistan Hindu Council desires that dialogue on vital issues should begin on the basis of equality. This will not only help in changing the scenario, but it will also have positive effects on this subcontinent.
Once again, heartiest congratulations to the Jang Group of Pakistan and Times of India for initiating efforts for peace in the region.
The writer is Patron, Pakistan Hindu council
But you speak such good Hindi
An Indian students innocent query triggers off a series of memories
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
By Huma Ahmar
The other day, a new student of Year 5 (age group 10 years) at the school I work in at Sydney came up to me and asked, Miss, where in India are you from?
I explained that I was not from India but Pakistan. The girl, who obviously had an Indian background, said with absolute wonder in her voice, But Miss, then how do you speak Hindi so well?
I speak Urdu, I replied.
But you even look Indian! she exclaimed.
Her comment transported me back to Bloomington, Indiana in 1996 when I was studying at the university there. As we walked along a road there, my husband and I were chatting to each other in Urdu. An undergrad student walked up to us and said, Hello, it is so good to see some more Indians here.
We told him we were Pakistani. But you speak such good Hindi, he exclaimed.
We explained that we were speaking in Urdu, and that the spoken versions of Hindi and Urdu were pretty similar. He was genuinely surprised and said it was awesome.
He ended up coming back to our place for lunch. By the end of the evening we had discovered many other similarities. By the end of the week our circle of friends had increased and included many Indians. Over a decade later, we are still friends with all of them. We realised that the myth that Indians and Pakistanis cant be friends because they are completely different was just that, a myth. We share many cultural values.
And we can work together as I found out while organising Womens Day Festivities 1997 at Indiana University. I worked with a team of six wonderful women, two of whom were Indian. We had lively discussions about the issues that South Asian women face. We concluded that many of the issues were the same -- lack of education, dowry and so on. It was a great learning experience.
My parents had migrated to Pakistan after the partition in 1947. Like many such families some of their loved ones chose to stay back. Many a tear was shed on both sides when visas were denied and relatives couldnt join each other for special occasions.
Growing up we heard stories about how much fun our mother had with her friends celebrating their festivals of Holi and Diwali, and them coming over to celebrate Eid with her. On the other hand we kept hearing from the media and in textbooks about the Indians who were our arch-enemies. So who were we to believe?
In the 1980s we moved to Malaysia for about three years and I had my first experience of meeting Indians. Not the ones that we heard about from Ammi or watched in movies but real ones in flesh. To an 11-year old mind the similarities were striking. They dressed like us, looked like us and even talked like us. And guess what, they even ate food that was really like our food, and their kids liked the same TV shows we watched and enjoyed the same books. So I guess Ammi and Abboo were right, we could be friends.
Raised with the values that all humans are the same, that we should respect all beliefs and that the basic moral values all over the world are the same -- truth, honesty, respect, love -- we had friends from different parts of the world. So maybe Indians were no different either.
Yet obtaining a visa for going to India always seemed to be a formidable task, given all the stories I had heard of the long lines and then the heartbreak of rejection. However I decided to brave it all when my aunt from the US suggested we travel to India in 1988. To everyones surprise and my disbelief I got a visa pretty easily. The long wait in the line was completely worth celebrating my birthday at the Taj Mahal.
We went to India again in 1989. It was an interesting experience both times. I met so many cousins and aunts and uncles that it was hard to keep track of them all. But it wasnt just the love that the family showered on us that made those trips so amazing. It was the love and empathy showed by the local people that made us feel really welcome. There was the kid selling flowers outside a temple near the Gomti river in Lucknow who would give me a flower because I was a guest from the neighbouring country, or the girls who gathered around to get a picture taken with a Pakistani who could speak Hindi and looked just like them.
Visiting the villages that my parents came from was another revelation. Locals, both Hindu and Muslim, remembered my grandparents and parents and asked after them and shared stories about them. They were excited and happy to see Vakeel Sahebs (the lawyers) granddaughter visiting the land of her forefathers. When we decided to stay the night in my mothers ancestral home, bedding was sent down from so many different houses that we had far more than we needed. The generosity showed by these people from our neighbouring country tells us that though we may be divided by people from both sides who continue to fan the flames of enmity for their own gains we are really not that different and we can coexist in peace and harmony.
It is time to put the ghosts of the past behind us and move into a happier, harmonious future. Let us be the ones who leave a legacy of hope, love and peace for the future generations of the Indian Subcontinent.
My bilingual 11-year old is frequently called upon to translate for new students from Pakistan and India who do not have much English. The Indian kids speak Urdu too but they call it something else, she says, and they are cool just like the Pakistani kids. We should go to India sometime.
Let us give these children the message that we share common values and hopes. Lets use all the energy we waste in harbouring animosity against each other to work together for the progress of our part of the world.
The writer is a teacher based in Sydney, Australia, with an Honours Degree in English Literature and MA in Linguistics from Karachi University and in Applied Linguistics and TESOL, Indiana University. Email: humahmar@yahoo.com
An Indian students innocent query triggers off a series of memories
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
By Huma Ahmar
The other day, a new student of Year 5 (age group 10 years) at the school I work in at Sydney came up to me and asked, Miss, where in India are you from?
I explained that I was not from India but Pakistan. The girl, who obviously had an Indian background, said with absolute wonder in her voice, But Miss, then how do you speak Hindi so well?
I speak Urdu, I replied.
But you even look Indian! she exclaimed.
Her comment transported me back to Bloomington, Indiana in 1996 when I was studying at the university there. As we walked along a road there, my husband and I were chatting to each other in Urdu. An undergrad student walked up to us and said, Hello, it is so good to see some more Indians here.
We told him we were Pakistani. But you speak such good Hindi, he exclaimed.
We explained that we were speaking in Urdu, and that the spoken versions of Hindi and Urdu were pretty similar. He was genuinely surprised and said it was awesome.
He ended up coming back to our place for lunch. By the end of the evening we had discovered many other similarities. By the end of the week our circle of friends had increased and included many Indians. Over a decade later, we are still friends with all of them. We realised that the myth that Indians and Pakistanis cant be friends because they are completely different was just that, a myth. We share many cultural values.
And we can work together as I found out while organising Womens Day Festivities 1997 at Indiana University. I worked with a team of six wonderful women, two of whom were Indian. We had lively discussions about the issues that South Asian women face. We concluded that many of the issues were the same -- lack of education, dowry and so on. It was a great learning experience.
My parents had migrated to Pakistan after the partition in 1947. Like many such families some of their loved ones chose to stay back. Many a tear was shed on both sides when visas were denied and relatives couldnt join each other for special occasions.
Growing up we heard stories about how much fun our mother had with her friends celebrating their festivals of Holi and Diwali, and them coming over to celebrate Eid with her. On the other hand we kept hearing from the media and in textbooks about the Indians who were our arch-enemies. So who were we to believe?
In the 1980s we moved to Malaysia for about three years and I had my first experience of meeting Indians. Not the ones that we heard about from Ammi or watched in movies but real ones in flesh. To an 11-year old mind the similarities were striking. They dressed like us, looked like us and even talked like us. And guess what, they even ate food that was really like our food, and their kids liked the same TV shows we watched and enjoyed the same books. So I guess Ammi and Abboo were right, we could be friends.
Raised with the values that all humans are the same, that we should respect all beliefs and that the basic moral values all over the world are the same -- truth, honesty, respect, love -- we had friends from different parts of the world. So maybe Indians were no different either.
Yet obtaining a visa for going to India always seemed to be a formidable task, given all the stories I had heard of the long lines and then the heartbreak of rejection. However I decided to brave it all when my aunt from the US suggested we travel to India in 1988. To everyones surprise and my disbelief I got a visa pretty easily. The long wait in the line was completely worth celebrating my birthday at the Taj Mahal.
We went to India again in 1989. It was an interesting experience both times. I met so many cousins and aunts and uncles that it was hard to keep track of them all. But it wasnt just the love that the family showered on us that made those trips so amazing. It was the love and empathy showed by the local people that made us feel really welcome. There was the kid selling flowers outside a temple near the Gomti river in Lucknow who would give me a flower because I was a guest from the neighbouring country, or the girls who gathered around to get a picture taken with a Pakistani who could speak Hindi and looked just like them.
Visiting the villages that my parents came from was another revelation. Locals, both Hindu and Muslim, remembered my grandparents and parents and asked after them and shared stories about them. They were excited and happy to see Vakeel Sahebs (the lawyers) granddaughter visiting the land of her forefathers. When we decided to stay the night in my mothers ancestral home, bedding was sent down from so many different houses that we had far more than we needed. The generosity showed by these people from our neighbouring country tells us that though we may be divided by people from both sides who continue to fan the flames of enmity for their own gains we are really not that different and we can coexist in peace and harmony.
It is time to put the ghosts of the past behind us and move into a happier, harmonious future. Let us be the ones who leave a legacy of hope, love and peace for the future generations of the Indian Subcontinent.
My bilingual 11-year old is frequently called upon to translate for new students from Pakistan and India who do not have much English. The Indian kids speak Urdu too but they call it something else, she says, and they are cool just like the Pakistani kids. We should go to India sometime.
Let us give these children the message that we share common values and hopes. Lets use all the energy we waste in harbouring animosity against each other to work together for the progress of our part of the world.
The writer is a teacher based in Sydney, Australia, with an Honours Degree in English Literature and MA in Linguistics from Karachi University and in Applied Linguistics and TESOL, Indiana University. Email: humahmar@yahoo.com
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