LAHORE: The Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) – a civil society organisation that has been working for peace and understanding between the two South Asian neighbours since 1994 – is deeply concerned over the escalation of cross border firing across the Line of Control (LoC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the forum stated that it seems all these firings are being carried on by both the governments for internal reasons, to satisfy specific constituencies of jingoistic nationalism, and offer little diplomatic advantage to either side.
The civilians living in the border villages are the worst victims as they live in constant fear of death and destruction by the neighbour’s shellings. Schools have been shut in such areas leaving families traumatised. The hard reality is they cannot go to any ‘safer areas’ as the harvesting season is on.
The PIPFPD sincerely appeal to both the governments to take urgent steps to reduce the tension and end all cross border firing. Any escalation of tension is against the interest of both states and the common people.
The organisation further urged both the governments to immediately resume their dialogue as it was the only way to bring peace to the region.
The statement was jointly issued by PIPFPD Pakistan chapter – Dr Mubashir Hasan, IA Rehman, Mohammad Waseem – and the Indian chapter – Asha Hans, Anuradha Bhasin, Jatin Desai and Tapan Bose.
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