Aman belongs to the strong and independent
Message from Tarun Vijay, Director, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, BJP Head Quarters, New Delhi
Peace belongs to those who are powerful and independent decision makers. Not to those who fight with their brothers and depend on dollars to live and make merry in New York. They can be subjugated souls, create wars and hold 'Track Two' dramas taking money for their scotches and Vodkas but can never ever touch the pulse of the people who survive on corn and rice.
India and Pakistan might be two countries, but they are one people and one culture. I have seen it with my eyes while visiting Pakistan seven times from Taxila to Balochistan.
If the white man's mischief was not so strong, playing havoc with our land and people, we would be living much more happily and with peace. Aman ki Asha must mean two independent entities, willing to talk and resolve their conflicts at the negotiating table with full power in their own houses. Two powers who are in control of their destinies and have a mechanism that can effectively control the elements they dislike. The people of Pakistan and India want Aman; they hate the hostilities.
From Barmer border to Mirpurkhas and Karachi and Hingol on Gwadar highway, I saw common people lined up to welcome us - when we visited the renowned and highly revered Hindu shrine Mata Hinglaj Mandir with Shri Jaswant Singh, an ardent Devi Bhakta. These were not dramatics by the government. It was for real and very genuine. I wrote the exact scenes in Panchjanya on my return, a newspaper run by those who believe in RSS. Readers were amazed but none complained why I wrote good, positive reflections about Pakistanis. I was able to complete my preparations with help from my best friend, who symbolizes the friendly spirit of Pakistan, Mahmood Shaam. I can anytime give my blank cheque to him and accept his verdict. Such is my faith in him.
But when Kasabs come to Mumbai and hateful 'taliban' run amok, the trust shatters and walls are created. How can you do that and still want peace with us? Just for some mad heads? In a situation when many Pakistanis are also feeling enraged over the extremism and violence, it's time for the cultural roots to take precedence over everything else. Why should we feel shy to accept we are one people, two countries? Why shouldn't we think what stoking fires in Kashmir has given Pakistan? Is it not the right time to rethink and reshape its domestic policies and concentrate on making Pakistanis happier, more literate, more enterprising and empowering socially disadvantaged sections? Why can't Pakistani rulers think that their best friend can be India alone? China or America extract their price of support. How can anyone else be closer to Pakistan as we can, so naturally? But the hatred for Hindus, which is at the base of anything that emerges from Pakistan against India, must be shunned. It has not helped Pakistan. A smaller country, it could have developed into a haven, with its rich resources and industrious manpower. But it has gone into a pit of bombs and bomb makers and no one knows who is ruling it. And look where India with its Hindu majority and liberal ideas has reached. We would like you to come along as equal friend. Think why Pakistan has missed the bus of future.
We are brothers, blood brothers, try to behave like sons of the same mother and with the blessings of Allah and Ram ji, we shall together emerge as the greatest power on this earth. Revive the spirit of 1857, remember Dahir belongs to us all; Mohenjodaro and Panini are a shared legacy. We are you and you are us.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Peace belongs to those who are powerful and independent decision makers. Not to those who fight with their brothers and depend on dollars to live and make merry in New York. They can be subjugated souls, create wars and hold 'Track Two' dramas taking money for their scotches and Vodkas but can never ever touch the pulse of the people who survive on corn and rice.
India and Pakistan might be two countries, but they are one people and one culture. I have seen it with my eyes while visiting Pakistan seven times from Taxila to Balochistan.
If the white man's mischief was not so strong, playing havoc with our land and people, we would be living much more happily and with peace. Aman ki Asha must mean two independent entities, willing to talk and resolve their conflicts at the negotiating table with full power in their own houses. Two powers who are in control of their destinies and have a mechanism that can effectively control the elements they dislike. The people of Pakistan and India want Aman; they hate the hostilities.
From Barmer border to Mirpurkhas and Karachi and Hingol on Gwadar highway, I saw common people lined up to welcome us - when we visited the renowned and highly revered Hindu shrine Mata Hinglaj Mandir with Shri Jaswant Singh, an ardent Devi Bhakta. These were not dramatics by the government. It was for real and very genuine. I wrote the exact scenes in Panchjanya on my return, a newspaper run by those who believe in RSS. Readers were amazed but none complained why I wrote good, positive reflections about Pakistanis. I was able to complete my preparations with help from my best friend, who symbolizes the friendly spirit of Pakistan, Mahmood Shaam. I can anytime give my blank cheque to him and accept his verdict. Such is my faith in him.
But when Kasabs come to Mumbai and hateful 'taliban' run amok, the trust shatters and walls are created. How can you do that and still want peace with us? Just for some mad heads? In a situation when many Pakistanis are also feeling enraged over the extremism and violence, it's time for the cultural roots to take precedence over everything else. Why should we feel shy to accept we are one people, two countries? Why shouldn't we think what stoking fires in Kashmir has given Pakistan? Is it not the right time to rethink and reshape its domestic policies and concentrate on making Pakistanis happier, more literate, more enterprising and empowering socially disadvantaged sections? Why can't Pakistani rulers think that their best friend can be India alone? China or America extract their price of support. How can anyone else be closer to Pakistan as we can, so naturally? But the hatred for Hindus, which is at the base of anything that emerges from Pakistan against India, must be shunned. It has not helped Pakistan. A smaller country, it could have developed into a haven, with its rich resources and industrious manpower. But it has gone into a pit of bombs and bomb makers and no one knows who is ruling it. And look where India with its Hindu majority and liberal ideas has reached. We would like you to come along as equal friend. Think why Pakistan has missed the bus of future.
We are brothers, blood brothers, try to behave like sons of the same mother and with the blessings of Allah and Ram ji, we shall together emerge as the greatest power on this earth. Revive the spirit of 1857, remember Dahir belongs to us all; Mohenjodaro and Panini are a shared legacy. We are you and you are us.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Small steps
The long-delayed press conference by Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and our Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the end of yesterday's talks was low ke
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Foreign ministers to consider petitions against visa restrictions
Bureaucratic hurdles keep blood relations apart
By Noor Aftab
ISLAMABAD: Living away from blood relations is not more painful for Nazima Babar Reshi, .....more
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India, Pakistan to take trust building process forward
ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan had what they called a prolonged discussions aimed at paving the way for serious, comprehensive and sustained dialo
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ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan had what they called a prolonged discussions aimed at paving the way for serious, comprehensive and sustained dialo
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LETTER
What good is a dead body...
Beena Sarwar's article "What good is a dead body…" (July 4) truly depicted my frustration on failure of my efforts in moving a .....more
Beena Sarwar's article "What good is a dead body…" (July 4) truly depicted my frustration on failure of my efforts in moving a .....more
'Krishna arrives with 'message of peace'
Says India wants to resolve all issues through dialogue; India blames ISI for Mumbai attacks
By Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: India's External Affairs .....more
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Krishna in Pakistan with 'message of peace and friendship'
ISLAMABAD: Indian Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna upon his arrival here on Wednesday said the aim of his current visit to Pakistan is to convey a message of pea
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ISLAMABAD: Indian Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna upon his arrival here on Wednesday said the aim of his current visit to Pakistan is to convey a message of pea
.....more Page 145 of 178
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The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
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For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
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