The massive signature campaigning against terrorism, war posturing as well as promoting cooperation and peace in India and Pakistan, which was launched on January 9 in both the countries has received significant response from the citizens.
Initiated by a number of civil society organisations of both the countries, the month long joint campaign was simultaneously initiated in 22 cities of India and 17 cities of Pakistan and it is supposed to be concluded on February 8 next.
In India, hundreds of Sadhus of Ayodhya led by Hanumangarhi temple Mahant Bhavnaath Das, prominent personalities like Mr. Chandrababu Naidu (former Andhra Pradesh) with the editor-journalists, academicians, artists, social activists signed for the initiative. Similarly, The Pakistan ministers and legislators from the Sindh Legislative Assembly in Karachi including the Sindh Assembly speaker Nisar Khuhro also supported the campaign on terrorism and war.
"Public Meetings and signatures on large banners were organised on January 22 in over 50 cities and towns of India and 20 cities and towns of Pakistan as part of the ongoing Joint Signature Campaign," said in a statement issued from the Indo-Pak Joint Signature Campaign Secretariat, Hyderabad.
"After 55 years of tense relations, just five years of sustained peace process between India and Pakistan was producing good results for all. Unfortunately, the terror attack in Mumbai suddenly changed the entire scenario and the tensions between India and Pakistan have once again reached dangerous levels that are detrimental to the interests of both the countries", the statement added.
Arguing that the dependence on the political- bureaucratic- military establishments in both the countries would not lead to reduction in tensions, rather on the contrary, the statement asserted, this nexus could only land both the countries in an unexpected war.
"War can never be a solution but the beginning of insurmountable problems for both the countries. Hence both the governments should desist from war posturing and immediately engage in meaningful and effective dialogue and actions to address the issue of terrorism and to resolve all other outstanding problems," the statement emphasized.
It also urged both the governments 'to follow in letter and spirit all the Conventions and Resolutions of UN and SAARC against terrorism and for cooperation to secure an atmosphere of mutual trust and holistic cooperation that alone could ensure security of all citizens and prosperity of the entire region'.
The role of the media of both the countries in the ongoing crisis is also termed as not much satisfactory. It appealed to the media of both India and Pakistan to play a constructive role in this hour of crisis to propagate and strengthen positive attitudes for the resolution of all the outstanding problems and discourage escalation of conflict and adventurism that could jeopardize peace and prosperity of both the countries.
Copies of signatures collected in both the countries will be compiled to be submitted to the Prime Minister of India, The President of Pakistan and other important political functionaries of both the countries and members of the Media before February 20, stated in a press statement.
The petition states that the citizens of Pakistan and India demand that New Delhi and Islamabad should practice zero tolerance for religious extremism and terrorism in the interest of the very sustenance and prosperity of both the countries. Both the governments should immediately set up a Joint Action and Investigative Agency for total cooperation and mutual assistance to address and overcome the problem of terrorism effectively and without any further delay.
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