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There Is Hope For India and Pakistan
Saira Yamin , ICAR Ph.D. Candidate
Posted: 12/04/08

[Published, Christian Science Monitor, December 4, 2008] Regarding the Dec. 1 editorial, "Best way to react to India's '9/11'": I applaud this commentary. It offers sound advice.

Terrorist attacks in Mumbai have engendered an acute sense of insecurity across the world.

As a Pakistani, I feel India's pain. I, too, have lost my people at the hands of terrorists. Now is the time for both countries to come together and work in earnest to root out terrorism. There is a tendency to blame the other when something goes wrong. But given our nuclear weapons, can we afford to carry on with such destructive patterns of behavior?

It is time to change our attitudes. It is time to build trust. And there is hope. India and Pakistan have been engaged in a peace process that has brought about a sea change in relations. Land and air communication links have been opened up. Visa relaxations, trade, and cultural exchanges have been facilitated. Leaders on both sides have also agreed to address Kashmir, which has been the cause of many wars.

Let us seize the moment to work together in peace and not in violence.

Let us fight terrorists and not each other.

Saira Yamin

Analyst, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University

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ICAR News Network There Is Hope For India and Pakistan Saira Yamin , ICAR Ph.D. Candidate Posted: 12/04/08 [Published, Christian Science Monitor, December 4, 2008] Regarding the Dec. 1 editorial, "Best way to react to India's '9/11'": I applaud this commentary. It offers sound advice. Terrorist attacks in Mumbai have engendered an acute sense of insecurity across the world. As a Pakistani, I feel India's pain. I, too, have lost my people at the hands of terrorists. Now is the time for both countries to come together and work in earnest to root out terrorism. There is a tendency to blame the other when something goes wrong. But given our nuclear weapons, can we afford to carry on with such destructive patterns of behavior? It is time to change our attitudes. It is time to build trust. And there is hope. India and Pakistan have been engaged in a peace process that has brought about a sea change in relations. Land and air communication links have been opened up. Visa relaxations, trade, and cultural exchanges have been facilitated. Leaders on both sides have also agreed to address Kashmir, which has been the cause of many wars. Let us seize the moment to work together in peace and not in violence. Let us fight terrorists and not each other. Saira Yamin Analyst, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution