A Friend From The Other Side of The Border
Who would know the meaning of Peace better than me, he who has witnessed violence? I belong to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (province bordering Afghanistan) where people have seen the worst kind of violence since 2001. We, who have been at the center stage were the most hit & affected. It is our Pakhtuns who got killed & we who are suspected.
On 1st January 2010 as I woke up I came across a full page Ad in The News (renowned newspaper of Pakistan). This advertisement shook me. I forgot my breakfast and turned to my laptop to search for the website. I got through the Facebook page of Aman Ki Asha and started reading comments & feedback on the post. This was the start of a new page in my life. Something I was looking towards to, and praying for, PEACE!
I love connecting with new people, knowing them; their life, culture, places from across borders, and learning from them. The only medium I have for it is Social Media. It helps me connect, know people and spread peace and love across borders. For the last six years, I have been very active on social media and have connected to hundreds of people from India alone. My next mission is to see the SAARC nation get together and form a SAARC Union on patterns of the European Union.
Having not a single Indian contact, I came across a guy Mr. Mohit Mehta with whom I discussed my eagerness to promote Peace between the two countries. The journey of friendship with Indians began. He introduced me to his college buddy & neighbor Mr. Harpreet Singh.
Main akela hi chala tha janib-e-manzil magar
Log saath aate gaye aur karwaan banta gaya
(I started alone towards my destination
People came together and became caravan.)
God Almighty listened to my prayers & Mr. Mohit Mehta introduced me to Mr. Pramod Sharma a wonderful man who organizes Peace Summits every year in India with youth from across the globe. Having tried for three consecutive years, I along with other Pakistani delegation could not get a visa. Not losing hope, applied for the 4th time and this time a miracle happened. On the end of the first day session of the conference in India, our delegation got Visa from the Embassy in Islamabad. My dedication was so strong that I packed my luggage and left for Wagah from Peshawar at 1 in the night, that day itself. People might call me crazy, but that is what I am. When I start something, I take it to its end.
Since then I have visited India a number of times. The rush of emotions which over take me every time I cross the order cannot be put into words. The love people extend to you every time is remarkable. You are sure to feel at home. All, I came across was welcoming warmth, hospitality, and a love that unites citizens from both sides. The feeling is incomparable. My visit to India every time gives me some unforgettable, pleasant memories to cherish.
I would do injustice if I forget to name a few Indians who would live in my heart till my last breath.
Ms. Astinder Kaur (Khala as she is the most sought out personality, someone who is closer than a blood relative)
Ms. Laleh Busheri (an excellent, energetic and a very enthusiastic lady running Cancer organization and working selflessly for the humanity)
Mr. Pramod Sharma (a real gem, who stays behind the curtains and takes all the pain in hosting and taking care of the minute details)
And many other wonderful people who remain in my thoughts & prayers.
We share many commonalities in terms of lifestyle and our love for food. We have been separated only by a piece of land. Everything else about Indians and Pakistanis stands the same. India and Pakistan can lead the world if they work together in the fields of Media, Agriculture, Trade & Commerce, Information technology and many other areas. We need not to fight with each other but fight with common problems like unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and the other biggest threats faced by the world. Once we start cooperating and working with each on various levels, we can grow together, faster, and at the same time, save billions of dollars on the arms & ammunition and eradicate poverty in South Asia. I think Media has a major role to play in creating the so called ‘rivalry’ between India and Pakistan. We need to understand each other and stop living in the past. Communication is the key to resolve tensions between the two countries. Media has an important role to play in promoting Peace. Better communication channels along with acceptance for each other can help develop good relations between the two countries. Social media can bridge the differences if used correctly. Discussions can help us know more about each other. Once we realize we have the same real-life issues, be it jobs, economic issues or social problems, we’ll be able to relate each other better and realize how artificial our differences are.
Let us quit the ''me-better-than-you-game''. It's time to stop wearing wounds as badges of honor, or as reminders of retribution. Let's begin healing. Thinking of each other as enemies will not take us forward.
Let us stop inflicting pain on each other. Forget & forgive should be the new slogan for South Asia.
The Holy Quran says:
''To you be your faith, to me my faith''