Jaatey jaatey... "We need Pakistan and India to play more cricket (laughs) - that is we need more healthy competition. If both teams have mixed Indian and Pakistani players that will be so good... My father was very eager that I visit Pakistan, he said it's a great opportunity and I should go. I was a little apprehensive and all my friends were asking me if I was sure about this visit, but I am so glad I listened to my father. I would love to come again for a longer period. We are neighbours, part of one region, so we need to think for the betterment of this region. We are closer and interlinked than we think. We speak the same language, you call it Urdu we call it Hindi, and in both countries English is a major language that is used to communicate"

- Parth Singhania, chartered accountancy student, Ryan International School, Haryana.

"I loved it here. I never had any second thoughts and I am glad I didn't. To tell the truth I don't feel as if I ever left my country or family, it is almost like I am at home. The people are so friendly. I would like to return again and to also see my family's ancestral city, Sargodha"

- Sachi Bhuttani, 11th grade, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi.

"I grew up thinking that Pakistan was not our friend. Although my views changed as I got older, even then I was a little apprehensive. But I am so glad to have come here and my views have changed (even more). This trip has helped me to understand that we as neighbours have so much in common that it would be so easy and take so little effort for us to be on betters terms. What little I have seen of Pakistan and its people, I have a very positive image. I would love to come back. I wish that we have more chances to interact with one another at all levels, and that we can also resolve serious issues like Kashmir in an amenable way"

- Karan Raghav, finance student, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi.

"We have visitors from Pakistan at our house all time, so I was very excited to come here. In fact I have met such great people and made such great friends that I feel very sad (breaks down here) to leave them. I would love to be able to come back and meet these friends and make more friends"

- Tanima Narang, 11th grade, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi (she is also a national level badminton player and ikebana artist).

"I never ever thought that I would come to Pakistan, but I am so glad I did. I was talking to friends and we were saying it will be a great experience, and I am glad we were right. The efforts that are being done to bring the people of the two countries together under the Aman ki Asha are great. I wish it succeeds to bring us even closer"

- Bhavya Mahajan, 11th grade, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi.


Friday, December 30, 2011