India, Pakistan must shun violence and initiate dialogue: Indian activist

India and Pakistan must resolve to shun violence and opt for dialogue on issues dogging their relations, as this change in approach remains imperative for ushering in an atmosphere of peace and security for people on both sides of the divide.

This exhortation was made by OP Shah, Chairman, Centre for Peace and Progress, New Dehli, India, while addressing students at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (Szabist) on Thursday morning.

“Our [Indo-Pak] relations are far from normal. Those struggling to bring about normalisation certainly are not happy with the trend. So it is in our interest that relations between both neighbours improve,” Shah said.

“There’s need for serious introspection, both on the part of the people [on both sides] and on the part of the two governments. We have to consider each other’s compulsions and limitations.”

He said it was incumbent on each one of us to cultivate trust, adding that eliminating the trust deficit was essential. The activist said that under no circumstances could there be a compromise on human rights violations. “Human rights of citizens on both sides of the divide have to be respected.”

The media, he said, would have to play a more positive and constructive role. He regretted that often the media indulged in extra hype and in the name of patriotism, became vociferously partisan. “What the media is doing today does not help. The media must come together.”

Alluding to the goodwill which he said existed for the people of Pakistan, Shah said that he was recently in Occupied Kashmir where the people were of the view that both governments should have regular dialogue and contacts.

Enunciating the Gandhian principles of non–violence, he said, “Violence always complicates matters to a dangerous level. Non-violence helps, hence, we should opt for it.” He said when thinking of bilateral ties, we should think of the poorest man and then consider as to what would benefit him.

Shah’s talk, which seemed to have evinced lots of interest among the students, was followed by an animated question-answer session. Referring to his assertion about the inviolability of human rights, a female student asked him a question which apparently left Shah groping for an answer.

She asked whether the blocking of Pakistan’s share of river waters by India was not a violation of human rights of the people of Pakistan. He was a little nonplussed but then said, “The two countries must resort to a dialogue on the issue.”

Another questioner pointed out that since the beginning of the Modi era, the United States was bucking up India to counter Pakistan and China. Shah replied, “But why should we wait for the US or any other world power to regulate our ties? It is a purely bilateral matter.”

Another female student, contesting his reference to India as a secular nation, said that after the elections of 1937, which the Congress won, “many Muslims were forced to convert to Hinduism”. In reply, Shah said he had absolutely no information in that regard and had not read this in any book or archives.