Greater Kashmir
ISLAMABAD: To foster durable peace in the region, leading media groups of India and Pakistan have joined hands to rub out the decades long hostile disposition and prevailing syndrome of revulsion between people of the two nations.
Getting united under the banner of “Aman Ki Aasha”, the media-led civil society across the borders is committed to provide a platform wherein the two sides could workout solution of all outstanding issues whether it is Kashmir, water dispute or the issues related to security.
It is for the first time that the two major media groups, Jang Group and Geo in Pakistan and the India’s Times of India Group have mutually decided to launch a concerted push for peace in the region. The political analysts opine that the initiative would by and large help to create a viable atmosphere and enabling conditions for a peace dialogue to succeed.
The peace initiative launched by the media groups is said to be a structured and well thought-out endeavour to push forward the peace process besides highlighting the everlasting benefits of harmony and socio-economic cooperation, which have eluded the people of the subcontinent over the past sixty years because of the hostile situation and confrontational mind-set in the region.
Ranging from cultural exchanges to policy debates the joint media initiative is purportedly the outcome of the detailed discussions and a comprehensive planning by the media groups.
However, the campaign is not supposed to exclude establishments of the two countries or to suggest solutions to the issues, rather it is purely a peace initiative aimed at promoting better understanding and harmony between the peoples and civil institutions of the two countries.
Shafqat Mehmood a political analyst in his article has revealed that the “Aman Ki Aasha” campaign has full support of the respective governments on both sides. In order to garner maximum public and political support for the campaign, Mehmood maintained that both the media groups have been engaged in consultations with ruling parties as well as other stakeholders.
NISSAR A THOKAR
