Aman ki Asha

Aman ki Asha.

Participants  India

 Pakistan

Date January 1, 2010

Aman ki Asha (Hindi: अमन की आशा, Urdu: ‫امن کی آشا‬, translation: "Hope for Peace") is a campaign jointly

started by the two leading media houses The Jang Group in Pakistan and The Times of India in India.
The campaign aims for mutual peace and development of the diplomatic and cultural relations
between the two nations in South Asia. It started on the 1st of January 2010. The campaign has
received warm response from India and Pakistan. Despite this, Bennet & Coleman, the holding
company of Times Group has been trying valiantly to keep the campaign afloat through a high decibel
media campaign.

Background
"Peace efforts between India and Pakistan are the real need of the hour and only prudence,
foresightedness and sincerity can do wonders for both countries. In this people of India communicate
with the people of Pakistan."

What is Aman Ki Asha?

The "Aman ki Asha" campaign follows the ground-breaking work of Friends Without Borders, an
International NGO that spearheaded a string of bold efforts to help ease tensions and create new
friendships between India and Pakistan through heart-based, people-to-people programs, including
pen pal exchanges, stadium events, public service announcements, and a massive border concert
that was canceled due to security threats. Two media partners of Friends Without Borders – The
Times of India and the Jang Group - re-branded the effort “Aman ki Asha: Destination Peace” and
kept it moving forward. The campaign looks beyond the confines of a 62-year-old political boundary to
the primal bonds that tie together the two peoples.

It’s been a long month of daily articles about cultures, traditions, musical and poetry nights organized
to strengthen the Indo-Pak ties. Emotional advertisements starring Amitabh Bachan have been
promoting this initiative. These are meant to bring peace to the sub-continent and dilute the tension
between the Governments.

“But what’s new with the cultural exchange. It’s been going on for years; students have been coming
and going on exchange programs.” Sonali, a DU student
The most prominent exchange has been that of the artists. Musical maestros, singers and actors from
both the countries often collaborate for projects, Heena and Khuda Kay Liye being the best examples.
Young singers like Atif Aslam and Xulfi hasve enjoyed tremendous success over here. Bollywood
movies and hindi serials have always had a fan following in Pakistan. The fashion industries of both
the countries have ready markets for each other. There is no love lost between the people. People in
Pakistan still cheer for Tendulkar’s 100 and people over here go nuts for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s
songs.

People of Pakistan and India do not create problems; it’s the Government, Armies and the extremist
that create. 26/11 was not planned by the whole of Pakistan, it was the extremist. IPL snub was not
the brain child of the aam admi but of the IPL officials. Dialogues fail due to governments. So until and
unless the governments start talking and armies stop the unprovoked firing, the people can do little.

Now many of you would say that when people come together any thing is possible. Sure it is but we
are talking about Indo-Pak, the problem is complex. There are layers of problems that can be solved
at the governmental level only.

This initiative has its supporters and doubters. “For years altogether political parties and rulers in
Pakistan have been playing games with their own people, if they need our help in giving themselves a
fair democracy and true freedom we should definitely give them a helping hand of friendship…after all
that solves our problems as well… and the first step to that could be AMAN KI ASHA…its baby steps
like this that make the baby learn to walk and then run to victory”, states Ritika. Whereas Karthik is not
very excited about this venture “This is strange! The Government of Pakistan hasn’t apologized for the
terror attacks in India, nor have there been any efforts from them to book the past culprits of 26/11
incident. Ajmal Kasab is still alive and awaiting judgment. How can we rush with “Aman ki asha” at
this stage!! Let justice be done first before extending a hand for friendship! Please shelf this unwanted
campaign ‘Aman ki asha’ until appropriate justice is done internationally. We do not support Aman ki
asha”

Whether this is a heart felt initiative? Or, Just a propaganda by two big media houses, we have to wait
for that. The governments must propel this aman ki asha.

RESPONSE

Lasting peace highly beneficial for India, Pakistan: PIA chief

Aijaz Haroon, Managing Director, Pakistan International Airlines: "If there is lasting peace between
Pakistan and India and visas are easily issued to the citizens of both countries, PIA could run six daily
flights to Mumbai from Karachi alone. Making air travel easy between the two counties will also greatly
help the airline industry. I envisage a 70 to 80 per cent instant growth, if visa-related issues get
resolved.
"We have 1.5 million Gujrati-speaking people living in Karachi. Almost all of them have family
members living right across the border. The two airlines won't even have to worry about empty seats if
that happens. Just in the month of Muharram, PIA arranged four extra 747 flights for members of
Bohra community who went to India to see their spiritual leader.

"We have already seen thousands of Sikh pilgrims coming to Pakistan every year. Many more cannot
come because of difficulties in obtaining visas.

"Then there is the Lollywood and Bollywood connection. A lot of Lahoris are crazy about the Indian
film industry. There is no dearth of Pakistanis wanting to travel to Mumbai because of Bollywood.
Cheap entertainment venues in India like Goa could attract thousands of tourists from Pakistan."

Yahya Polani, Chairman, Travel Agents Association of Pakistan, South Zone: "Even ten daily flights
between India and Pakistan won't be enough to meet the demand if tensions subside between the two
nations. My experience in the tourism industry tells me that people of South Asia region really want to
travel to each other's' countries. They try to find similarities with each other. After all, our roots are not
much difference than those living in India or Bangladesh.

"It is very difficult to travel across the border right now. Indian and Pakistani embassies discourage
citizens from traveling. They should get over their past. They suspect each other of spreading
terrorism -- although it is internal terrorism that is causing the damage in India and Pakistan.

"Look at Sri Lanka. The country fought war for 28 years with separatists but it did not let that affect its
tourism industry and gives visas on arrival. That is what we in Pakistan and India need to do.

"Pakistan has so much to offer to Indian tourists, from Karachi to Khyber. All we need is provision of
facilities."

Salahuddin Berchu, tour operator and Manager Tours, Travel Walji's, Islamabad: "If the governments
implement the accord they had agreed upon some years ago, to allow tourist visas for groups of 12
and above, we would get up to 5,000 Indian tourists a month. The approved groups would stay in 4 or
5 star hotels, spending around USD 2000 per person, minus airfares and shopping. This could
generate about half a billion dollars a year for Pakistan.

"Even keeping in view security concerns and keeping sensitive areas out of bounds for such tourist
groups, there is still plenty for Indian tourists to see in Pakistan and for Pakistani tourists to see in
India."

'''' I support aims of Aman Ki Asha: David Miliband' ''''Bold text'

AKA unites British Asians; inspires hopes for peace By Murtaza Ali Shah LONDON: British Foreign
Secretary David Miliband paid accolades to the Aman Ki Asha initiative and its objective of bringing
peace and stability to the South Asian region.
He told The News exclusively that the Aman Ki Asha launched by the Jang Group and the Times of
India is an important initiative with noble objectives. He saw in this campaign the potential to promote
dialogue in an important and constructive way.

David Miliband said: "The Aman Ki Asha initiative is doing an important job, helping to find common
ground between Pakistan and India. It builds on the traditions, history, language and culture that
Pakistan and India share.

"I support the aims of this initiative - to bring together the people of the two countries in order to help
promote dialogue."Miliband's outspoken support follows the groundswell of support the Aman initiative
has generated across the world in diverse sections.

In a survey conducted by The News, British Asians have voiced their full support for the historic Aman
Ki Asha initiative amid optimism that the Jang Group and the Times of India will pave the way for
permanent peace between the warring siblings of 1947 partition.

Prominent advocacy groups, cross-section politicians and leading individuals agreed that Aman Ki
Asha initiative has inspired hope in a way unseen before in the conflict-ridden history of the two
neighbours.

British Asians of Pakistani and Indian heritage, who number well over 2.5 million in Britain, have lived
side by side in this country and the hostilities back home have never -- or rarely -- impacted upon their
relations. That how closely and comfortably they are knit in the common culture and togetherness can
be witnessed at the time of music concerts, when they rock together to the hits of Rahat Fateh Ali,
Daler Mehdi and Bollywood hits, or the political and religious activism against inequality and racism.
They support similar causes, their similarities far outnumber their differences. They live mostly in
same neighbourhoods in complete peace, work at each other's businesses, talk endlessly about
Bollywood, curries and cricket. And when they are attacked by Neo-Nazis on the basis of their origin
and colour of skin, no distinction is made and they are all treated the same way.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, the first ever Muslim peer who is also chair of the All Parties Parliamentary Group
on Kashmir, urged both India and Pakistan to resolve the issue of Kashmir -- the fundamental dispute
between the two countries. "There is no military solution to the problems between India and Pakistan.
All disputes must be resolved through a process of dialogue in which people of Jammu and Kashmir
must take active part."

Dr Ashar Chohan, a PML-N provincial lawmaker, and Dr Rami Ranger, whose parents lived in Multan
before Partition, found the Pakistan, India and UK Friendship Forum, more than five years ago to not
only advocate harmony between South Asians in the UK but also lobby the Pakistani and Indian
governments for resolving the issues.

Dr Chohan and Dr Ranger said the initiative taken by the Jang Group in conjunction with the Times of
India in the name of Aman Ki Asha has come at the right time.
They said any tension between India and Pakistan can only help terrorists. This campaign is
developing understanding amongst general population and it will certainly lead to dialogues between
the governments of two counties. We hope both atomic powers will realise that they must resolve
issues as soon as possible. Peace in the region will help fight poverty and bring happy days in the
lives of millions living in the subcontinent, they added.

They said there are approximately 25 million Sikhs well settled all over the world whose sacred places
are in Pakistan. At present, only a few visit Nankana Sahib but if relations were to improve, then the
Sikhs from the US, the UK, Canada, etc will visit in significant numbers with their families and this
alone will generate at least four billion pounds of income per year which will grow with time.

Similarly, people from Pakistan will visit India in vast numbers to visit their relatives, and shrines.
India's trade to Afghanistan, Iran, Central Asia and China can move through Pakistan for further
mutual benefit.

In support of the campaign, Bharti Tailor, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: "Aman
Ki Asha is a wonderful initiative and we hope it is a great success. Here in the UK many people have
friendship at individual level but these hit barriers created by the conflict between the two countries.
These individuals and many others will welcome this initiative which will hopefully bring an end to
hostility and lead to precious resources being used for more constructive purposes."

Britain's first Muslim Minister Shahid Malik MP said he had nothing but praise for this "truly inspiring
and innovative initiative".

The UK Local Government and Communities minister said: "Quite often the media is blamed for much
negativity in our society but the Jang Group and The Times of India are demonstrating that the media
can play an incredibly positive role and be a force for good. Aman Ki Asha is a truly innovative and
inspiring initiative and I congratulate the two media giants of India and Pakistan."

Malik continued: "A resolution of outstanding issues and normalisation of relations between India and
Pakistan will deliver a profound peace dividend for the people of the two countries. India and Pakistan
have common enemies such as disease, poverty, climate change and terrorism and these are just
some of the areas where there can be joint work. There is a real opportunity to substantially increased
economic cooperation to the mutual benefit of the two countries and their people."

Stop the War Coalition, which organised two million-man march against Iraq war, termed the Aman Ki
Asha campaign a much-needed intervention. Its chair Lindsey Germam said: "We are facing the
threat of a much more dangerous world. The tensions between major powers have been exacerbated
by the economic recession and by the fight for resources which takes place in so much of the world.
There is still the war on terror which continues in Afghanistan and Iraq, Yemen and Somalia.

"It is very encouraging that at such a time you are launching a campaign for peace in India and
Pakistan. The traditional tensions between your countries cannot be allowed to spill over into war. Any
future war between India and Pakistan will not only involve nuclear weapons, but will have
implications far beyond your borders."

She recalled that when she organised the two million-man march in 2003 against the Iraq invasion,
the demonstrators involved people of all nationalities and religions. "There were many Muslims, but
also many Hindus and Sikhs on that day, marching together in unity against war. They were symbolic
of even more millions around the world who opposed war and believed it would bring nothing but
misery for the ordinary people of Iraq."

Sheikh Surbland, a leading community activist and philanthropist, said the peace initiative was a
remarkable development and called it the first ever popular people's movement to bring about peace
between the two countries.

"The media has traditionally played up conflicts to increase ratings. The two leading groups from India
and Pakistan are making history by launching a serious effort to normalise relations."

Europe-based nationalist Kashmiris have warmly welcomed the Aman Ki Asha initiative. Leaders of
the International Kashmir Alliance (IKA), an umbrella body of various nationalist Kashmiri parties, Dr
Shabbir Chaudhry and Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, while speaking to The News said India and
Pakistan must show maturity and learn to live like good neighbours. They must understand that
disputes could not be resolved by use of gun. People of India and Pakistan wish to live in peace. They
don't want violence and terrorism. They don't want extremism and hatred. They want stability and
economic prosperity and that could only be achieved if there is peace in the region.

Ashis Ray, president of Indian Journalists' Association in Europe, said peace between India and
Pakistan is imperative, adding the civil society in Pakistan needs to resist the forces of destabilisation.

"A mature way forward for India and Pakistan would be to follow the Sino-Indian path of peace and
tranquillity," which was adopted in 1993 notwithstanding the age-old border dispute. This has resulted
in greater confidence and a staggering annual trade turnover of $60 billion. If Islamabad grabs India's
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) offer on trade, prosperity for Pakistan is inevitable; stability will follow,�
said Ray.

Pakistan Journalists Association (PJA-UK) lauded the daring peace initiative and said the journalist of
two countries have a crucial role in bringing the governments together for serious negotiations.
Wajahat Ali Khan, PJA's secretary general, said peace is a prerequisite for stability, peace and
prosperity in the Subcontinent. "Peace will strengthen democratic governments and also unity within
both of the countries."

Deepak Kuntawala, the survivor of Mumbai terror attacks who set up the DVK foundation to support
victims of terror, said: "I fully support the peace efforts between India and Pakistan, towards global
unity as well as solidarity.
"Aman Ki Asha is an excellent positive initiative and as the great Chinese proverb goes, 'lets light a
candle, than to curse the darkness' -- we all need to stand united, globally, to ensure that we all strive
towards doing something positive out of a negative act like terrorism as well as pro active measures to
promote global peace."

Virendra Sharma, Labour Member of Parliament for Ealing Southall, said: "I would like to congratulate
the Jang Group in conjunction with the Times of India on launching the Aman Ki Asha campaign. It is
crucial that all nations, communities and people work together for peace. I strongly believe in a society
where we all respect each others differences and show tolerance to all. Secularism is vital to ensure
that all religious beliefs are respected and all communities work harmoniously together. Continuous
meaningful dialogue and discussion is the only way to resolve problems and bring about lasting
peace. I know that along with myself millions of others will support this campaign and I would urge all
supporters of the Aman Ki Asha not to lose hope but to keep continuously working for peace."

Meanwhile, Mohammad Sarwar MP from Glasgow Central, announced that he would table an Early
Day Motion in support of the Aman Ki Asha campaign. It is expected that the EDM will be supported
by British parliamentarians of all parties.

Sarwar told The News: "At a time when the entire international community is blighted by the malady of
terror, this is certainly a most welcome initiative because a stable and peaceful relationship between
the two countries is crucial to establishing peace in the wider region.

"The timing of this campaign is very significant that its launch marks the breakthrough in international
relations which we have all eagerly been awaiting; the resumption of formal peace talks between
Pakistan and India.

"It also serves as a refreshing reminder not only of the tremendous goodwill that Pakistanis and
Indians have towards one another or of how well they can work together, but most importantly of their
shared values and common desires."

Criticism
The campaign has come under severe criticism from a major part of society in both India and
Pakistan. They campaign is rendered as a publicity stunt by these groups who consider the attitude of
people of the two nations is beyond any rivalry. Hindu-Muslim agitations in India; decision of Babri
Mosque; Hindu persecution in Pakistan and Pakistan's suspected and to a much level proved
continued support to Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists in India (see 26/11 Mumbai Attacks) have
reignited claims these rival nations find little common ground between themselves. The partition of
religions seem far too high a mountain to climb for the nations to have a friendly relation with each
other.