By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow With a flicker of hope in their heart to improve the strained Indo-Pak relations, activists from both sides of the border will converge in Lucknow on Sunday. The activists that include people from the field of theatre, human rights and even politics will assemble at the 2nd UP State Convention of Pak India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) to be held at CMS auditorium here on Sunday.
Amidst the ongoing suspicion between the two countries, peace activist from Pakistan Saeeda Diep voiced her views for ending the war hysteria among both the nations. Interacting with media on the eve of the convention on Saturday, Diep encouraged people to people contact between the two countries. “When the people from both sides will interact they will develop a strong bond of unity. This relation can overcome any contentious issue ending the sour relations,” she said.
However when reminded that terror activities in India have a Pakistani connection, she claimed that such elements are not Pakistani. “They are state-less actors and if we continue to increase the frequency of contact between two countries, their intentions will be defeated,” she added. For more interaction, she opined that journey between the two countries should be made more relaxed. “For improving the ties between the two countries it is important to relax visa norms. This will allow more travel between two countries and interaction among people,” she claimed. Saeeda urged both the governments to desist from politics of hate. “At this critical juncture it is all the more necessary to continue with the peace process and defeat the intentions of those who are determined to derail it and thereby undermine not only peace but also democracy,” she said.
Over the convention in Lucknow she remarked: “The program is aimed at striving for spreading peace at grass root level, promote bilateral relations and friendship and help governments of both the countries to resolve major issues.” She stated that the convention will serve its purpose and the people of Lucknow have been awaiting this for several years. Apart from debating the conflicting issues affecting the relations between the two neighboring countries, a cultural program comprising peace plays promoting harmony between the two countries will also be held at the Gandhi Bhawan auditorium on Sunday evening.
PIPFPD was constituted 14 years ago as a citizens group comprising members from both the countries for encouraging peace and harmony between the two nations. For many years since its inception, annual national conventions were being held till 2008 alternately in India and Pakistan. Representatives from both the countries would participate in the events. But due to the disturbed relationships, the national conventions could not be held since then. The state convention slated for Sunday is an attempt in the direction of reviving the culture of holding national conventions. After Sunday’s programme, a three-day convention expecting participation of 200 delegates across the borders is scheduled on October 20, 21 and 22 in Allahabad. The event will however depend on the Visa availability to the participants from Pakistan.