Ras Siddiqui July 15, 2002

Tags: Riots , Violence , Environment , AIDS , Media , Population , Relationships , Education , Violence

Asia">South Asia were a necessity and that just worrying about the possibility of war between India and Pakistan was not enough but some initiative both global and local was needed to get these countries and our communities to start a dialogue.

Instead of the current large scale military positioning on the Indo-Pak border plus the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir and with frequent threats and counter threats that continue to emanate from a variety of sources in New Delhi and Islamabad today, this small group had decided that war in South Asia needs to be avoided at all costs and that India and Pakistan should prioritize their resources towards helping their already large segments of deprived citizenry.

Beyond the hosts whose hospitality we enjoyed, none of the other participants will be named here as a few had mixed feelings about having a member from the media in their midst at this early stage in their effort. But after some initial hesitation, a wide variety of inputs kept the momentum going. And in that time period, one could not escape a feeling of nostalgia of the many years that have gone during which some Indian and Pakistani-Americans have somehow lost contact with each other. It seems that a negative trend has currently taken over in some of our relationships and we have somehow become like estranged relatives. And it is said that intra-cultural or familial disputes are more hurtful and cut deeper into the human psyche. Indians, Pakistanis (and Bangladeshis) fall into this category. Instead of solutions, tragically some of our South Asian brothers and sisters have taken a very antagonistic line of thinking. Some are even advocating war in a nuclear environment and expect some kind of “victory”.

There was no sense of religious differences and much concern at this meeting. “We need to cooperate as neighbors”, said Annie. Dinesh mentioned the recent report of the growing AIDS affected population in India and how little is being spent in that country to counter that threat compared to military expenditures. Annie and Dinesh and others continued: “In parts of India and Pakistan people don’t have enough to eat. Education and healthcare is what we should be concentrating on. On the recent riots in India the emotions really showed. “Gujrat was shameful”. In that one has to agree. India is literally playing with fire and has a bleak future if such a scenario is (allowed) to be repeated.

For a brief background Dinesh had been very involved in putting together a People to People Dialogue at Panchgani in India last August where 90 participants from India, Pakistan and Kashmir moved from their mutual stated positions of mistrust to find friendship and common ground in their common heritage of food and music. The participants included former Generals, Ambassadors, poets, ex-militants and community activists from both countries. The conference resulted in the Panchgani Declaration which was hand carried to General Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee. But that of course was in August 2001 and then 9/11 happened, an event that has literally changed the world. It has taken almost a year since then for regrouping in this peace effort for South Asia especially amidst the military escalation by India in recent months.

The next focus of this group will be on a 3-day conference in August 2002 to be held in Vermont sponsored by the Global Institute for Responsible Leadership. The plan is to invite 50 to 100 members for a leadership lab that will include individuals from various levels of influence from Pakistan, India and the U.S.A. to begin discussions on how the ice of this South Asian Cold War can be broken. If individuals with the means and corporations worried about war in South Asia want to financially contribute to make this effort a success, they should contact this publication.

In the mean time this group is interested in an expanded meeting over lunch on August 11th. at a venue to be decided in the San Francisco Bay Area, but this time inclusive of the ethnic Indian-Pakistani media. I had pointed out at this meeting that segments of this media have not been helpful in bringing Indians and Pakistanis together and can help us now. One wonders if the local South Asian media will take on this challenge because hate based circulation enhancement is often far easier than promoting peace and harmony.

In conclusion one has to dip into and recognize the common heritage and cultural bonds in South Asia to seek peace. One which can be of immense benefit to over 1.3 Billion people and a world that often fails to recognize the gravity of the consequences of war between India and Pakistan. All people at this meeting recognized that a disaster of horrific magnitude is a real possibility. Too much hate and violence has been fuelled in the region by our Himalayan sized national egos. It is time to climb down. It is time for us “Desi” South Asians to think rationally. A war between India and Pakistan today will produce no winners. And if this American-Muslim-Pakistani can attend such a meeting in America at the invitation of a American-Hindu-Indian-Kashmiri, all we may need to come up with a solution for our problems is some common sense and practical wisdom. Tea and samosas (appetizers) can be optional. But before we talk about the most difficult issue (Kashmir) let us help get back on Track II diplomacy by assisting people like this group. Jai Hind & Pakistan Zindabad are great but India-Pakistan-Kashmir Banega Kabrustan ( India-Pakistan-Kashmir will become a graveyard) is not acceptable. Please stand up and be counted now because if war starts it will be too late to start or sustain peace movements. It is time for Indians and Pakistanis worldwide to re-humanize their “enemies”.