Indian delegation in Lahore to pursue peace
Two ex-admirals, ex-foreign secretary, writers and media persons to share 'A Common Destiny' with Pakistanis
By Shahab Ansari
LAHORE: A seven-member high profile Indian delegation, comprising media persons, writers, retired admirals and a former top diplomat, arrived here to participate in the Aman Ki Asha series of discussions - "A Common Destiny."
This unique initiative of the 'Jang Group' and the 'Times of India' brings together people who are leaders in their respective fields. Former Indian foreign secretary Salman Haider, Prem Shankar Jha, Amitabh Mattoo, Admiral Ramu Ramdas (retd) are other members of the delegation.
Talking to The News after their arrival, Admiral Nayyar, who spent his childhood in Lahore, described his journey to Lahore "going from one home to another." He said: "We have become prisoners of our history and the challenge for us now is to get out of this prisoner mindset to struggle for peace."
He said he had been pursuing 'Aman Ki Asha' for the last 21 years. He believed that the present initiative would help realise the dream of Peace. However, he added, "There are two major challenges: first, to realize our own mistakes, and, second, to come out of the shadows of the prisoner mindset, a legacy of our history," he said.
He termed Gen Asad Durrani (retd) his 'peace-brother' as he too was working for peace. Adm Nayyar said that as far as Pakistani president and prime minister were concerned, there was not even an iota of doubt about their sincerity for a lasting peace.
Emphasizing the importance of patience and perseverance, he said the peace process was time-consuming. He said meetings like this would certainly bear fruit. He said, "No one knows the horrors and cost of war better than a soldier and its same for the soldiers of both the sides."
Gen Durrani, the moderator of the entire series of the Aman Ki Asha initiative, termed it a search for peace, naming the whole process as "Let's Talk" (Ao Baat Kurain).
From Pakistan, delegates include Aitzaz Ahsan, Dr. Mubashir Hasan, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, I.A. Rehman, Sherry Rehman, Arif Nizami, Shafqat Mahmood. Some of the delegates will be available for question sessions on the 23rd of April between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
By Shahab Ansari
LAHORE: A seven-member high profile Indian delegation, comprising media persons, writers, retired admirals and a former top diplomat, arrived here to participate in the Aman Ki Asha series of discussions - "A Common Destiny."
This unique initiative of the 'Jang Group' and the 'Times of India' brings together people who are leaders in their respective fields. Former Indian foreign secretary Salman Haider, Prem Shankar Jha, Amitabh Mattoo, Admiral Ramu Ramdas (retd) are other members of the delegation.
Talking to The News after their arrival, Admiral Nayyar, who spent his childhood in Lahore, described his journey to Lahore "going from one home to another." He said: "We have become prisoners of our history and the challenge for us now is to get out of this prisoner mindset to struggle for peace."
He said he had been pursuing 'Aman Ki Asha' for the last 21 years. He believed that the present initiative would help realise the dream of Peace. However, he added, "There are two major challenges: first, to realize our own mistakes, and, second, to come out of the shadows of the prisoner mindset, a legacy of our history," he said.
He termed Gen Asad Durrani (retd) his 'peace-brother' as he too was working for peace. Adm Nayyar said that as far as Pakistani president and prime minister were concerned, there was not even an iota of doubt about their sincerity for a lasting peace.
Emphasizing the importance of patience and perseverance, he said the peace process was time-consuming. He said meetings like this would certainly bear fruit. He said, "No one knows the horrors and cost of war better than a soldier and its same for the soldiers of both the sides."
Gen Durrani, the moderator of the entire series of the Aman Ki Asha initiative, termed it a search for peace, naming the whole process as "Let's Talk" (Ao Baat Kurain).
From Pakistan, delegates include Aitzaz Ahsan, Dr. Mubashir Hasan, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, I.A. Rehman, Sherry Rehman, Arif Nizami, Shafqat Mahmood. Some of the delegates will be available for question sessions on the 23rd of April between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A prayer for peace
Ghazi Salahuddin
We, in Pakistan, have rang out 2010 with a general strike and noisy rallies by religious elements in defence of the blasphemy law. We also rang ou .....more
Ghazi SalahuddinWe, in Pakistan, have rang out 2010 with a general strike and noisy rallies by religious elements in defence of the blasphemy law. We also rang ou .....more
Bridging a tiny geographical but huge political - distance
Mohsin Hamid
"When you fly from Lahore to Delhi, as I did last February as part of the Aman Ki Asha initiative, you realize how close these two places are. .....more
Mohsin Hamid"When you fly from Lahore to Delhi, as I did last February as part of the Aman Ki Asha initiative, you realize how close these two places are. .....more
The power of compassion - and aman
written for Aman ki Asha
Karen Armstrong
In these troubled times, it is not often that a news story lifts the heart but when I read about the Aman ki Asha quest .....more
written for Aman ki AshaKaren Armstrong
In these troubled times, it is not often that a news story lifts the heart but when I read about the Aman ki Asha quest .....more
Pakistanis, Indians want peace, friendship, says poll
By Amir Zia
KARACHI: Despite a history of conflicts, mistrust and estranged relationship, an overwhelming number of Pakistanis and Indians want peace and friendsh .....more
By Amir Zia KARACHI: Despite a history of conflicts, mistrust and estranged relationship, an overwhelming number of Pakistanis and Indians want peace and friendsh .....more
'Love Pakistan' ? I agree
By Semu Bhatt
The first morning of 2010 brought with it a pleasant and very welcome surprise. I fetched the newspaper still half asleep, and the next moment .....more
By Semu BhattThe first morning of 2010 brought with it a pleasant and very welcome surprise. I fetched the newspaper still half asleep, and the next moment .....more
Collaboration, not confrontation
By Bashir Ali Mohammed
In a region where historically the media of both nations has been seen to play a negative role vis-a-vis each other, the Aman ki Asha initia .....more
By Bashir Ali MohammedIn a region where historically the media of both nations has been seen to play a negative role vis-a-vis each other, the Aman ki Asha initia .....more
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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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