Why peace is essential for sub continent?

Amidst the heated cross fire on geographical borders as well as on media between Pakistan and India,the visible war hysteria may easily be seen not only in the illiterate majority of citizens but surprisingly in the literate,politically knowledgeable minor chunk of citizens in both countries.

We take pride in portraying Pakistan as the only atomic power in the brethren of Muslim countries yet happen to ignore the very teachings of our own religion that means,supports and advocates peace.

Moreover, its teachings regarding the rights of neighbours and the conduct to carry in a neighbourhood are to make its followers remain as peaceful as possible yet it allows to defend against an aggression.

Are we as a muslim majority state not failing to comply with our religious teachings?

Even in terms of universally established ethical norms, with power comes responsibility but we see ourselves violating those norms as well.

This is human nature to recognise the right and wrong but delaying to initiate a good act is also a human trait.

We may appreciate the worsening situation between two countries but neither of us is willing to take initiative.

Pakistani citizens being the followers of a peaceful religion must take the step in the right direction to extinguish the burning fire on the border.

Instead of being irrationality patriotic and bashing each other's movies,cultural delegates and boycotting sports events, why not bash our own miscreants,identify and expose our own anti peace elements and cope our own hate preachers who have hijacked the peace of entire region.

This is only possible if the silent rather mute peaceful majority on both sides of border starts acting as proactive for "peace in the region for all neighbours"as the small anti peace lobby is vehement to spread their hate filled ideology.

A realistic approach of looking into matters is required to be explained to those who are easy prey of irrational patriotism and Hindu Muslim hatred which is the easily available fuel on both sides.

The narrative based on enmity needs to be replaced by the realistic one.,"we are neighbours,we can not replace each other but can replace our attitudes from irrational to rational".

We can not and should not even consider,treat and conduct with each other either as friends or enemies but neighbours and neighbours only.

Neighbours do always have mutual issues and conflicts on the table to resolve but the same should neither remain disputed nor lead to reproduce its offsprings.

Peace lies only at the disposal of pro peace citizens of both countries but we have to stand up against our very own countrymen who are either deliberately or otherwise engaged in making this region a hell and also convince the authorities to change their irrational rhetorics with that of rational,resolving bilateral issues per their merit.

By A.R.naqsh