by DR. PRITAM ROHILA
Except for a few and brief periods, mistrust and hostility have characterized India-Pakistan relations, for more than 60 years. This state of affairs has led to allocation of disproportionately large percentage of national resources to military, and neglect of human development. They have gambled away the welfare and future of their people to maintain their rivalry.
Certainly successive governments of India and Pakistan are responsible for these policies and the current conditions. But people also have to share the responsibility. They got the governments they for which they voted and supported.
Civil societies in both countries as well as the ex-patriots have to provide leadership to help people to ensure that the governments reverse the suicidal course and allow their people to thrive and prosper.
Association for Communal in Harmony in Asia (www.asiapeace.org) is ready to launch its India-Pakistan Peace Day 2011 campaign with the theme “Peace for Prosperity in India and Pakistan.” A petition urging the governments of India and Pakistan to end conflict and divert their attention and public monies to bring prosperity to the dispossessed millions of women, children and men.
As in previous years, we urge people everywhere to organize activities appropriate to this theme, any day between the Pakistan Independence Day on August 14 through the International Peace Day on September 21, 2011. We will post announcements and reports of these activities on our www.indiapakistanpeace.org website.
What are you willing to do?
Dr. Rohila is the Executive Director of ACHA, the Association for Communal in Harmony in Asia (www.asiapeace.org). He can be reached at asiapeace@comcast.net