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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, JUNE 1: Associations representing eminent citizens of India and Pakistan have urged the two Governments to exercise restraint in Kargil and demilitarise the Line of Control.
“Both the countries cannot afford such adventures,” the citizens, allied to the Association of Peoples of Asia (APA) said, appealing to the people of both countries to build a strong peace initiative and bring moral pressure on their respective governments.
“Human life on both sides is precious. Any killing is a loss to both our countries. Let us follow the path of sanity and develop good neighbourly relations in order to solve our problems,” they said, in an appeal to the Indian and Pakistani Governments.
The citizens include former governor B K Nehru, film director and Rajya Sabha member Mrinal Sen, senior journalist Kuldip Nayyar, film actress Shabana Azmi, Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande and danseuse Sonal Mansingh from the Indian side.
Member of National Assembly of Pakistan Shakil Ahmed Baloch, educationist Dr Zaki Hasan, historian Mubarak Ali, womens’ activists Iqbal Sultana and Anis Haroon and journalist and writer Mujhid Barelvi were among those who represent the Pakistani side.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy has demanded immediate cessation of armed hostilities and the creation of a demilitarised zone along the LoC.
Urgent steps must be taken to start discussions on outstanding issues with active participation of people from both sides of the LoC, it said.
“The claim that the possession of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan would create a situation of deterrence and hence of peace has been falsified and the hopes raised by the Lahore Declaration have been belied. In the nuclear environment in the region, development has escalated the danger of war”, the forum said.
