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----- Original Message -----

From: asha

To: indpakpeacemarch@... ; bobby@...

Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 5:25 PM

Subject: [indpakpeacemarch] peace march allowed to enter pakistan

dear friends, due to relentless efforts of friends in pakistan - saeeda deip, karamat ali, b.m. kutty, irfan mufti, a.h. nayyar, fahim khan - the pakistan interior ministry has allowed 12 indian citizens to enter pakistan and complete the remaining programme of india pakistan peace march. however, they have not given us permission to march. we are allowed to go in vehicles. in fact the instructions from the interior ministry to the pak high comission in delhi is to issue a visa only for 6 days for lahore and multan. since we do not see any possibility of the march being allowed inside pakistan in near future for the time being we have accepted the idea of going to lahore and multan and symbolically completing the march. there are going to be events in lahore on 8-9 may and a peace mela on 11th may (the originally scheduled last day of peace march), 2005. we'll cross the border at wagha on 7th may from this side and return on 12th may (end of 6 day duration) from pakistan. the following names have been cleared by the interior ministry of pakistan:

 

1. sandeep pandey

2. gurudial singh sheetal

3. mahesh k. pandey

4. faisal khan

5. darshan singh

6. monika wahi

7. zaid ahmad shaikh

8. niranjan parikh

9. ramnik mohan

10. sanat mohanty

11. mazher hussain

12 arundhati dhuru

 

we're trying to obtain visas for all these friends while karamat bhai is trying to get permission for more indians in the list that we had submitted to be allowed to come to pakistan. we are also trying to have some MPs accompany us as they don't need visas. if you know of any MP who might be interested in going to pakistan please request him to accompany us for these 6 days in pakistan or just come to lahore or multan directly.

 

the abovementioned friends are requested to make travel plans to reach amritsar latest by 7th may morning. we'll meet at wagha at 10 am that day and immediately proceed to cross the border.

love, sandeep

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Please also try to propagate the principle of
secularism in Pakistan and in fact in the whole world.
For peace and progress this is very essential.
KA
--- asha <ashaashram@...> wrote:
> dear friends, due to relentless efforts of friends
> in pakistan - saeeda deip, karamat ali, b.m. kutty,
> irfan mufti, a.h. nayyar, fahim khan - the pakistan
> interior ministry has allowed 12 indian citizens to
> enter pakistan and complete the remaining programme
> of india pakistan peace march. however, they have
> not given us permission to march. we are allowed to
> go in vehicles. in fact the instructions from the
> interior ministry to the pak high comission in delhi
> is to issue a visa only for 6 days for lahore and
> multan. since we do not see any possibility of the
> march being allowed inside pakistan in near future
> for the time being we have accepted the idea of
> going to lahore and multan and symbolically
> completing the march. there are going to be events
> in lahore on 8-9 may and a peace mela on 11th may
> (the originally scheduled last day of peace march),
> 2005. we'll cross the border at wagha on 7th may
> from this side and return on 12th may (end of 6 day
> duration) from pakistan. the
>  following names have been cleared by the interior
> ministry of pakistan:
>
> 1. sandeep pandey
> 2. gurudial singh sheetal
> 3. mahesh k. pandey
> 4. faisal khan
> 5. darshan singh
> 6. monika wahi
> 7. zaid ahmad shaikh
> 8. niranjan parikh
> 9. ramnik mohan
> 10. sanat mohanty
> 11. mazher hussain
> 12 arundhati dhuru
>
> we're trying to obtain visas for all these friends
> while karamat bhai is trying to get permission for
> more indians in the list that we had submitted to be
> allowed to come to pakistan. we are also trying to
> have some MPs accompany us as they don't need visas.
> if you know of any MP who might be interested in
> going to pakistan please request him to accompany us
> for these 6 days in pakistan or just come to lahore
> or multan directly.
>
> the abovementioned friends are requested to make
> travel plans to reach amritsar latest by 7th may
> morning. we'll meet at wagha at 10 am that day and
> immediately proceed to cross the border.
> love, sandeep
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com

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Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online.

dear friends
greetings from karachi
i have met TENZIN during our peace march. my dream of
teen age to meet a budhist monk came true after
meeting him. now he and his family is in a emotional
crisis.  i don't know what we will do of those states
who can not care about the feelings of such nice
people. if you are something and can do something in
this regard.
regards
aslam khwaja
Note: forwarded message attached.


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The following is a copy of the letter I e-mailed to President Musharraf
yesterday (he can be contacted at:
http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/Write2thePresident.aspx ). There has been
no response as yet.



Respected President Musharraf,
I am sorry that I am having to write to you about a matter that might seem
trivial to you, but is one very important to me. I am a 34 year-old Buddhist
Monk, and a lecturer in a small university in Varanasi, India. We are Punjabis
and my mother was born in Lahore. It has been my lifelong desire to visit
Pakistan and see some of the places my grandparents talked about so lovingly all
their life. As a peace activist, the recent initiatives between our two
countries, in which you have taken a leading initiative, have been very
encouraging for me. I was in the Delhi-Multan peace march which began from Delhi
on the 23rd of March. However, when we reached Wagah, we learnt that we were
most likely not going to be permitted to continue the march in Pakistan. After
we had waited at the border for two days, the nine Pakistani friends who had
marched with us crossed Wagah and re-entered Pakistan. Though we had spent only
a few days together, I assure you the bond between our Pakistani friends and us
had grown so strong that we were all in tears. The scene of grown up, robust,
foot marcher all in tears would have melted your heart had you ben able to
witness it.
The latest news is that 12 of the Indian marchers have been granted permission
to enter Pakistan for six days, though they will have to travel in vehicles and
will not be allowed to conduct their foot march. We understand the security
concerns that neccessitate this. However, in what has been one of the most
crushing disappointments of my life, my name is not on the list of the 12 and so
that means I will lose this chance to visit Pakistan.
I am writing to urge you to personally intervene in a humanitarian gesture and
grant visas to me (and to a few other marchers if possible). We do not
constitute any security threat to Pakistan. We have deep respect and love for
your country. All we seek is friendship and the chance to meet and interact with
our Pakistani friends. And now that we are not conducting a 'foot march' as
planned earlier, surely security concerns cannot be cited as a reason for the
refusal.
It is a shameful thing to admit, (but very typical of the situation on the
subcontinent) but till recently, I had never met or interacted with a single
Pakistani in my whole life. Let us not let this terrible and ridiculous
situation continue.
As a simple Buddhist monk (who happens to be deeply respectful of the Islamic
tradition) I request you to please give heed to my humble request and grant me
permission to cross over at Wagah with my friends to visit Pakistan. It is a
gesture for which I assure you we will remain deeply indebted. I shall await in
hopeful anticipation this small thoughtful gesture on your part that will help
to further cement the friendship between our two nations.
Faithfully,
-Vinish Gupta

Lecturer
Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (Deemed University)
Sarnath, Varnasi-221 007.
India.
Tel: +91 9839115353


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NEED YOUR ENDORSEMENT AND QUICK- BY 30th APRIL

Dear All,

Thanks very much for the very positive response and encouragement for the "No! No! Campaign"

Its only 5 days since the first draft was circulated on 22nd April  and there are so many endorsement and some very valuable suggestions. We have tried to incorporate these suggestions in the text of the Petition and and in the body of the Proposal to improve the campaign.

For those who are recieving this mail for the first time, the No! No! Campaign!! is being proposed to launch a signature campaign in  India and Pakistan from 11th to 30th May2005 to urge both the governments to stop missile tests, not to purchase F 16s and F 18s and to relocate the funds thus saved for education and health needs of the peoples of both the countries. More details in the Concept Note attached.

Based on the suggestions recieved we have redrafted the first Concept Note and are herewith attaching the 2nd Draft. For the convenience of those who have already read the first Draft, we have given all the modifications and additions in ITALICS so that you do not have to re-read the whole thing.

It is proposed to finalise the Campaign Appeal latest by 1st May 2005. Hence we request you to send all you suggestions latest by 30th April so that we could incorporate them in the Final Version.

Given your long standing social commitments and especially to the issues of peace and development , we hope you will endorse the concept and agree to collaborate in its implementation.

As the Campaign is proposed to be launched as a joint initiative of all the organisations that endorse it and are willing to collaborate in its imlementation, we request you to give you consent to include the name of your organisation as one of the collaborating organisation for the launch and implementation of the Campaign.

Details about the role of the collaborating organisations, website and other aspects of the Campaign are given in the Concept Note.

Please circulate this to other organisations you think may be interested in collaborating in this Campaign.However, we shall circulate the Campaigh Appeal to the members of the public only after including the names of all organisations that give their consent to collaborate.

Looking forward to an early response.

Regards
Mazher

View from the ground
Sandeep Pandey
The News, Pakistan - April 26, 2005
***********************

(www.jang.com.pk/thenews)

As part of the ongoing Pakitan-India Peace March we came across the
first resistance to our position on Kashmir when we reached Phillaur
from Ludhiana. Our host here was Mr Johal, president of the
committee which runs the Gurdwara where we were to stay. He
registered his protest as soon as we arrived, rejecting our position
on the Kashmir issue as according to him, it favoured Pakistan. He
believed that Kashmir was an integral part of India and only Indians
had a right to decide about the future of Kashmir. It was obviously
a narrow nationalist position, shared by some other Indians too.

We were gathered at a Hanuman temple, and Mr Johal snatched our
signature campaign sheet and started striking out the statement on
Kashmir. He managed to damage two sheets by the time he was made to
understand the people who had signed the sheets agreed with the
position of the Peace March and did not share his opinion on
Kashmir. The peace marchers tried to avoid getting into an
unpleasant situation with their host for the rest of the evening.
They tried to reason with him but he was not in a mood to listen to
any other point of view.

At night after dinner at the Gurudwara he and his associates joined
a meeting we were holding to discuss how to tackle such a situation
in future. There was another round of discussions on Kashmir and we
tried to reason with them that any possible humane solution to the
problem must involve the people of J&K. We explained to him that the
narrow nationalist view held by Indians from outside Kashmir, or for
that matter Pakistanis outside Kashmir, was born out of a feudal
mindset and in a world in which people were more sensitive to human
rights violations and also a democratic way of thinking, the
conventional nationalist Indian and Pakistani views could not be
imposed on the people of Kashmir.

Also, in a world where economic policy of globalization is taking
over, the concept of a nation state is weakening and even the two
governments probably realize that staying ahead in economic
development is more important than in an arms race; this will take
away pressure from the governments to make a prestige issue out of
Kashmir.

We also pointed out that a major section of our societies, including
dalits, tribals, women, and other marginalized sections, do not
share the traditional concept of nationalism as they are busy with
more basic struggles for life and livelihood. For example, they are
not likely to feel the same enthusiasm if India beat Pakistan in a
game of cricket compared to people who were close to the ruling
class. We don't know whether this discussion had any affect on the
associates of Mr. Johal but he did come to see us off in the morning
and seemed to be calmer than the previous evening. He may have
reconciled to the differences in our points of view.

Our march in Ludhiana was shown on the national TV in Doordarshan
news. As we were walking from Phillaur to Phagwara we were stopped
by a buffalo-trader who recognized us and crossed the road to stop
us. His name is Paramjit and he expressed his happiness that such a
march was taking place; he confidently told us that we were sure to
get visas to cross over into Pakistan.

By then, we had learnt that the Pakistani government was refusing to
allow the marchers from Pakistan to cross over into India. But
Paramjit's resolve reflected the opinion of the common people that
people should be allowed to cross the border freely. Little did we
know that two days later Pakistan's Interior Ministry would actually
grant permission to some Pakistani marchers to join the march. This
also opened the possibility of us going to Pakistan and realizing
our dream of a joint march through the territories of India and
Pakistan, and then together crossing the Wagha border.

As we walked out of Phagwara towards Jalandhar, a bicyclist crossed
us, and got down after stopping next to me. Surjit Singh earns his
living as a Tadi Kirtan singer; his wife is also in the same
vocation. He congratulated us on the march and said that he had
signed our signature campaign which my colleague Chandralekha from
Hardoi District of U.P. was carrying walking behind me.

He then offered a suggestion that pleasantly surprised me, saying
that the third point in the signature campaign, about allowing
people from two countries to meet freely and, if possible, doing
away with the passport-visa system, should have a higher priority
than the first two points.

The first point states that both sides should resolve their disputes
peacefully through dialogue, including the issue of Kashmir
according to the wishes of the people of J&K. The second point is
about doing away with nuclear weapons, land mines and reducing the
defence budgets so that resources could be spent on development of
poor people on both sides of the border. Surjit argued that the
third point is closest to the hearts of the common people from India
and Pakistan and is also probably the easiest for the two
governments to agree to. It would also create an atmosphere in which
the governments would find it easier to make progress on the first
two points.

Surjit Singh is a representative of the common people. Only somebody
like him could have thought like this because we intellectuals often
cannot free ourselves from our preferences and biases. I'm glad I
met him, and thank him for educating me about the priorities of the
issues as common people see them.

I kept cursing myself on not seeing this simple logic while drafting
the signature campaign text. Anyway, we're glad that we've collected
over 5000 signatures on this statement and so far except for Mr.
Johal, nobody seems to have any problems with the point of view that
we're putting forward during the India Pakistan Peace March.

                                         Sandeep Pandey

(The writer is a prominent social worker based in Lucknow. He is
among the Indian peace marchers currently camped at Wagah border
waiting for permission to enter Pakistan)

Author's Email: ashaashram@...

Hiccups in the walk to peace
Kashmir Times, April 26, 2005
*****************************

(This was published as an Editorial in THE NEWS, Pakistan, and today
has been re-published in Kashmir Times duly crediting THE NEWS)

The Indian and Pakistani peace marchers camped for days on either
side of the border at Wagah are a telling reminder of the visa
regime that restricts the people of India and Pakistan from meeting,
despite the ongoing peace process and assurances of either
government about relaxations in this regime.
The peace march started on March 23 in New Delhi from the dargah of
the great Sufi saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia and is to end on May 11
in Multan at the tomb of another great Sufi, Bahauddin Zakaria. The
route roughly traces the footsteps of Nizamuddin Aulia's journey
circa 1257 to meet the towering Sufi saint-poet Baba Farid.
Besides reinforcing the peaceful Sufi traditions of the region, the
marchers, by walking and crossing the border on foot, want to
protest against the existing visa regime that restricts ordinary
citizens of India and Pakistan from crossing the border except by
air, by road or by rail.
Given the restrictions, the marchers have been grateful for the
small mercies, like Pakistan's Interior Ministry allowing nine
Pakistanis (out of 43) to cross the Wagah border on foot to meet
marchers in India and walk back together to Multan. However,
Pakistan's refusal on April 20 to grant visas to the Indian marchers
waiting since April 18 to cross into Pakistan, for which the
government cited its inability to provide security to so many
Indians, has caused a setback to the plan. (The prominent Indian
singer Shubha Mudgal was also mystifyingly refused a visa at this
time.)
Such refusals are particularly unexpected amid the ongoing peace
talks, and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's own assurance to the
organisers at their meeting of March 12 that the visas would be
granted. The organizers had offered to convert the march into a
caravan and use buses for reaching Multan, but obviously, the
bureaucracy still rules - or overrules.
The idea that Indians and Pakistanis could walk together on roads in
each other's countries, through villages and towns, was implemented
at least symbolically, with the nine Pakistani marchers being able
to join their Indian counterparts at Amritsar before crossing back.
They are waiting a week for their Indian colleagues to join them,
and in the event the visas are still not granted, they will continue
the walk to Multan without the Indians. Their message is clear:
their struggle will continue. They report warm receptions by
ordinary villagers.
In the larger scheme of things, the intransigence of the
bureaucracies on either side must be viewed as but a hiccup, that
will eventually be overcome with political will and developing the
necessary infrastructures to deal with the demand of people on
either side to meet.

*(Editorial: THE NEWS, Lahore)

RESPONSES TO 'need comments on proposed plan of action for May 11'
****************************************************************
from:
1. Niranjan Parikh
2. Ramneek Mohan
3. Mazher Hussain
4. Saeeda Diep
********************

1. from: niranjan parikh, niranjan1_99@...

In DELHI in front of Pakistani High commission and In Islamabad in
front of concerned MINISTRY Pl.Submit our signatures collected
during INDIAN Leg of PILGRIMAGE YATRA

Niranjan Parikh
********

2. from: Ramneek Mohan, mohanramneek@...

   It has to be more than just symbolic. Let us start from around May
8, rather than just restricting ourselves to May 11. May 8,9 and 10
all marchers who can possibly be there, should be in Wagah - on both
sides of the border. We should have our banners et al in a daily sit-
in punctuated by slogans and songs of peace throughout the day. In
the evening, the Beating Retreat ceremony should be "utilised" to
raise slogans of peace and brotherhood, countering the slogans of
competitive nationalism that monopolise the event daily on both
sides of the border - this, again, should be done on both sides,
India and Pakistan, by the peace activists. Among these slogans
should be protest slogans against the stalling of the Peace March
for want of visas. MAY 11 should be the finale - this day we should
mobilise as many people as possible from all over the two countries
on both sides of the border - the people we were in touch with en
route in the Indian leg should DEFINITELY BE INVITED TO BE THERE to
give strength to the cause. Major media personalities should be
invited for May 11 - at least the pro-people media persons we know
are likely to answer the call. A parallel event could be held in
Delhi the same day - or it could be on May 12 or 13, culminated by
an effective Press Conference.
             It has to be a SOLIDARITY DAY between the two peoples -
and our strength should be positively visible - we should mobilise
as many pro-people organisations as is possible for this.
               I SHALL BE THERE - BE IT DELHI OR WAGAH - OR BOTH, for
that matter ( provided the events don't clash, of course!).

Ramneek Mohan
************************

3. from: mazher hussain, Mazherhussain11@...

Dear friends
The NEWS Editorial is very supportive and encouraging. We should try
to enlist more media support to high light our plight.

As for action on 11th May if Visas are denied to Indians to join the
Pakistan leg of the March, I endorse the suggestion of Fasts and
demonstrations on the day. But we should try to organise these in as
many cities and towns as possible and not just at Wagah and Delhi.
Of course the events at Wagah and Delhi could be major ones for
geting national media focus. All the suggestions I had made earlier
about white bands protests, setting pegeons free at Wagah etc. could
be implemented still if they are acceptable.

Besides, it is also proposed to launch  the No! No! Campaign from
11th May. There is very good response to the proposal and may be we
could club both these together for greater impact.

Regards
Mazher
********************************

4. from: Saeeda Diep, saeedadiep@...

dear friends!

I suggest lets wait for other two days as i am in Islamabad and
trying to put all the efforts . I guess by tuesday or wednesday we
will get the reall picture.In the meantime i believe we must do our
home work if we fail to get visas the protest must be well pland and
must be on both sides.
We should also discuss if our friends from india do not get visas
should we go for the peace conference on 11 May in Multan or should
we wait untill they arrive???
While departing from indian friends i was thinking of writing many
stories but right now caught up with this visa thing and beurocracy.
One more issue , its true that both governments are not cooprative
in people to people contacts but weneed to be critical of our
managment.
People who want to get visa on both sides have to submit list at
least 10 weeks ahead .
any ways keep your spirits high,hopes alive and we shall over come.
love
diep
__________________________________________________

Can unequal people deliver equal peace?
By Javed Naqvi
DAWN, Pakistan
***************

NEW DELHI: Politics has been described as the gentle art of getting
votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to
protect each from the other. The India-Pakistan peace process is in
a large measure a result of a similar political jostling that has
intensified in each country. Here too the interests of the dominant
classes are passed on often as the voice of the people.

President Pervez Musharraf observed during his interaction with the
Indian Editors' Guild, who else, that the focus of the world had
shifted from politics to business and trade. He is right and so is
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who believes that borders everywhere,
not just in South Asia, should give way to trade convoys. That's why
among the most eager people to promote peace between India and
Pakistan are members of the elite business clubs such as Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of
Indian Industry.

However, in an era of neo-liberal economic regimes in both
countries, the domination of the peace discourse by those who are
tethered to the indices of the New York Stock Exchange is the surest
way to entice both countries to the blood-caked political dungeons
in neighbouring Washington DC. In other words if there are economic
compulsions for peace to supplant hostilities between India and
Pakistan, and why should we be apologetic that economics counts,
then it invites an urgent debate about the kind of economic path
that we are seeking to pave for ourselves in the otherwise vacuous
name of peace. This is all the more urgent because of the nexus of
economics with warmongering as lucidly illustrated with the crowning
of Paul Wolfowitz as the new head of the of World Bank.

Peace and stability of course mean different things to different
classes of people. They mean one thing to the rickshaw-puller who
endures the white heat of the uphill trawl and another to the portly
passenger who bides the torturous journey counting the pennies he is
going to short-change the toiling man by. In the India-Pakistan
context both characters could fit the bill as advocates for peace,
but both have entirely different motives in setting their stated
objective.

It is axiomatic that our two governments while professing peace in
the name of the people are being clearly partial to one set of their
citizens as opposed to the other. It has become amazingly easy today
for a CII or a FICCI-accredited businessman to pick up a visa for
Pakistan. There is a kind of underwritten guarantee that neither
government will do anything to obstruct the journey and the agenda
of these well-heeled leaders. So be it. But what harm could a small
band of dedicated peace mongers belonging to both countries do to
unnerve their two governments? Why should Sandeep Pandey, a
Magsaysay Award winner not be allowed to carry on with his march
from the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi to the shrine of
the revered Baba Farid in Multan? Why will Pakistan not give him a
visa?

There is no answer coming much less a cogent argument from any of
the two governments. Is it the fear that Sandeep -– since he had the
temerity to return Magsaysay's $50,000 because he would not recant
on his criticism of the American invasion of Iraq and because he
staunchly opposes the nuclearisation of South Asia -– challenges a
highly vulnerable state ideology? Till proved otherwise this is
going to be the assumption of all those people on both sides of the
border who toil for peace -– not in seminar rooms, or in business
clubs or in self-proclaimed editors' guilds -– but on the street
when ever there was a need or an opportunity.

Look at the number and the type of people that Pakistani peace
activists embrace across the border. Their interlocutors range from
the Hindu right to the mainstream left, including the two major
Communist parties. Lalu Prasad Yadav representing low caste Hindus
and Ram Vilas Paswan of the lowest caste Dalits have all been to
Pakistan. Film stars, journalists, theatre activists, teachers,
students and musicians, the works, have been in each other's
country. But how much do the peace-wallahs know about the Naxalites,
theso-called Maoist groups who command and control vast tracts of
India –- from Hyderabad in the South to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in
the North, via large chunks of territory of Orissa, Maharasthra and
MadhyaPradesh?

Do people in Pakistan or even in India care to know that the CPI
(ML) organized the biggest rally seen in Delhi against the 2002
standoff. More than 50,000 people, mostly the poor, lowest caste
Dalits and tribes-people had journeyed in cramped trains in the
baking month of June to lend their voice for peace.

The CPI (ML) supported Iftikhar Geelani and S.A.R Geelani when other
political parties ran for cover. "Genuine peace and friendship
between India and Pakistan can only be based on a conscious
rejection and reversal of the jingoistic foreign policy pursued for
most of the post-partition years. A peace limited to the post-9/11
context and governed by the strategic perspective of Washington will
always be fragile and vulnerable to American manipulations," a
largely unread CPI (ML) editorial on the peace moves said last week.
How many in the mainstream media have put it as succinctly?

"It must however be understood that any attempt to take Kashmir for
granted will only vitiate the environment. The people of Jammu and
Kashmir must be taken into confidence in every possible manner.
Greater political initiative in Kashmir, including a general amnesty
to all political prisoners and strengthening of internal democracy
in the state, must go hand in hand with enhanced exchanges with
Pakistan.

"The corporate houses and the corporate media have already started
talking about peace dividends. The monopoly houses can only
calculate dividends in terms of greater market share and bigger
profits. For the common man in India and Pakistan, the best
realisation of peace dividend can only be in the form of reduced
spending on arms and increased public expenditure and investment for
meeting the basic needs of the working people of the two countries."

* * * *

Cricket legend Viv Richards is rumoured to be in the running to be
India's new coach. The original master blaster, in Mumbai last week,
was clear that he was not going to get himself a coach's badge if
that was condition to get the job.

"I have not got a coaching badge. But I am also reluctant to go for
the badge. I have with me the experience of playing in 124 Tests and
have a sound knowledge of the game," said the master. Moreover, you
could get a badge only from England. "And having beaten England in
the game all my life, I can't see a genuine reason to subject myself
to something crass like this."

Email: jawednaqvi@...

Dear Friends,
Please do read the editorial published in THE NEWS (Pakistan) today
on Sunday April 24, 2005 'Hiccups in the walk to peace'. As it is
evident that the peace march had more than a hiccup, it had to be
suspended because indian marchers didnt get the clearance despite of
assurance of Pakistan's PM Aziz sahib earlier on March 12.

Please send in your responses to:
What should we do to send the right message across with utmost
strength and amplitude on May 11. Some proposals are:

* organize a one day fast and protest on both sides of the border at
Wagah

* some senior peace activists like Kuldeep Nayyar sahib, MP,
suggests the one day protest should be held in New Delhi, for
greater impact

New Delhi or Wagah, please send in your responses. Also please let
us know who all will be able to participate either in Wagah or New
Delhi on May 11.

best wishes always

be hearing from you all....

India Pakistan Peace March
**************************

(for more details please contact:

DR SANDEEP PANDEY
0522 2347365, 09415022772
Email: ashaashram@...
&
KARAMAT ALI
karamatpiler@...
***********************************************
***********************************************

Hiccups in the walk to peace
Editorial: THE NEWS, Pakistan
April 24, 2005
**************

The News (Editorial): The Indian and Pakistani peace marchers camped
for days on either side of the border at Wagah are a telling
reminder of the visa regime that restricts the people of India and
Pakistan from meeting, despite the ongoing peace process and
assurances of either government about relaxations in this regime.

The peace march started on March 23 in New Delhi from the dargah of
the great Sufi saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia and is to end on May 11
in Multan at the tomb of another great Sufi, Bahauddin Zakaria. The
route roughly traces the footsteps of Nizamuddin Aulia's journey
circa 1257 to meet the towering Sufi saint-poet Baba Farid.

Besides reinforcing the peaceful Sufi traditions of the region, the
marchers, by walking and crossing the border on foot, want to
protest against the existing visa regime that restricts ordinary
citizens of India and Pakistan from crossing the border except by
air, by road or by rail.

Given the restrictions, the marchers have been grateful for the
small mercies, like Pakistan's Interior Ministry allowing nine
Pakistanis (out of 43) to cross the Wagah border on foot to meet
marchers in India and walk back together to Multan. However,
Pakistan's refusal on April 20 to grant visas to the Indian marchers
waiting since April 18 to cross into Pakistan, for which the
government cited its inability to provide security to so many
Indians, has caused a setback to the plan. (The prominent Indian
singer Shubha Mudgal was also mystifyingly refused a visa at this
time.)

Such refusals are particularly unexpected amid the ongoing peace
talks, and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's own assurance to the
organisers at their meeting of March 12 that the visas would be
granted. The organizers had offered to convert the march into a
caravan and use buses for reaching Multan, but obviously, the
bureaucracy still rules – or overrules.

The idea that Indians and Pakistanis could walk together on roads in
each other's countries, through villages and towns, was implemented
at least symbolically, with the nine Pakistani marchers being able
to join their Indian counterparts at Amritsar before crossing back.
They are waiting a week for their Indian colleagues to join them,
and in the event the visas are still not granted, they will continue
the walk to Multan without the Indians. Their message is clear:
their struggle will continue. They report warm receptions by
ordinary villagers.

In the larger scheme of things, the intransigence of the
bureaucracies on either side must be viewed as but a hiccup, that
will eventually be overcome with political will and developing the
necessary infrastructures to deal with the demand of people on
either side to meet.

Source: www.jang.com/pk/thenews

Dear Harsha wardhan and friends
Hope you are doing great
First of all I want to pay thanks  to all  of the Marchers who
walked through Delhi to Wahga  they prove that peace process is now
going on and on  and it  is the necessity of the region, I
appreciate and salute  those how have tiny bodies but huge task aims
which they have achieved,  every one in the marcher  I met is
glorified and courageous enough to reached Multan  and I believe
they did it well it is now on the other part how they dealt with
weather they continue the march  are wait the miracles happened .
I think the Pakistani marchers  could get the permition to join the
main stream was only due to  progressive attitude of the organizer's
they didn't wait on 23 march and  proceed towards border if they
happen to wait us ,they couldn't be able to get us even  in .Beas
  Their marchers resolved that water, land and human beings are one
I appreciate the organizers efforts to attain the goal , they
continuously and sleeplessly work hard to maintain the proper
arrangements for the marchers under the great leadership, they leads
the two nation for peace and harmony, Dr Sandeep Panday  is a mile
stone in the way of Peace process . I feel proud that I got a chance
to step on the foot step of this giant who walked 1800 kilometers
anti-nuclear march from Pokhran to Gaya in Bihar, immediately after
India's nuclear test in May 1998
Every step we share with the Indian friends from the Beas River to
Wahga border and the peoples we meet in the way will never forgot,
the love and hospitality and the desire to meet each other peoples
was on the high,even in the schools we visited Mallian, Khalchian,
Manawala,  Jandiala guru the  young boys and girls shows the
interest in   peace no one can imagine if not witnessed. It was so
courage's attitude of the youth towards peace   I believe that the
youth of the both side will play a pivotal role in future. I don't
want forgot to appreciate the role of the teaching staff of these
schools also they built good structure of peace in the students.
The traders of the Jandialia Guru  gives us a great treat of love
and warm welcome where more than  300 villagers labors and
commission agent, Chaman lal arora and his fellows of market
committee attend the reception. And thanks to the host in the city
where there all door was open for the  marchers at their homes and
heart.
I want gratitude the warm heartiest welcome by the person in charge
Gurduara Shaheed sahib in Beas   where I had my first experience
being with the Gurduara.
And enjoyed the good food with the delicious Dhoodh Jalleby ,we
honored with Saropas ( Traditional shawls ) and wonderful evening
with them with their peace concerns and love for the Pakistani side
this evening we had first interaction with the all marchers and
Pakistani Marcher received their holy chaders gifted by Mizar boo
Ali Qalandar .along with two books (South Asia In Quest for peace &
health  and Bay Bass Prinday).
Politically saying all marchers have their own field and grip their
prudent and bold historic decisions and commitment shows that every
one work to make this planet worth living .

The holly city Amritser  I  had some  different experiences during
the march as follows
The mature and well educated peoples are really serious about the
peace process like the student was eager to march with the other
from Amritser to Wahga, Principle Guru Nanak Medical college who
arranged a good auditorium full gathering to welcome Peace
marcher .  Thanks to Doctor for peace a good initivative for peace
lovers.
  And I also  witness with other all marcher that  Lallee  one of the
Pakistani peace marcher  released  the Shanti yatra  Peace songs
dedicated by the Ghazal sirinavs . Cd in the presence of all. And he
honored all Pakistani marchers to handed over this Gift of peace

The last meeting in the Darbar sahib in which we all verbalize about
the future plans and the visa proceedings, and visualize the
scenario , it happened as I put my feeling in the house all marchers
are witnessed .
I met two wonderful persons. Dr Sunilam, MLA and Maestro Ghazal
Srinivas both are well known in India Dr Sunilam  is Member
legislative assemble Bhopal (Madhya Pardash) I saw him walking with
the boils on the feet and slogan for  peace on the lips.  it shows
the firm commitment and believe in pace.  Further I thank him for
his politicalization of my visit in Delhi even we had just couple of
hours he made them fruit and thoughtful.
Ghazal Srinivas inspire my heart and soul a man of voice a man of
vision  a man of dream  for the next generation he don't want see
her daughters and her fellows suffered by the armed marathon of
India and  Pakistan . his Shanti Yatra inspiration songs dedicated
to Indo Pak peace march . His album Shanti Yatra Relised by the
President of The India. This is also a great victory of the peace
marchers lovers and organizers that the massage of Srinivas has not
unsung any more in the castle of nuclear power. The Creator of the
Indian nuclear has recognized the power of peace.
Sanskrithi the Dughter of Ghazal srinivas I asure you that all
Pakistani children and peace lover will remember your
massage ,,Mujhay Shanti  Chahye,,
His songs during the way on March and on the Wahga border make real
progress. He delivered 500 CDs for the Pakistani peace lovers
On the other hand Sheetal jee, Mehash ,  Suriender Narinjan Parikh,
Miss Monika Wahi  and all other are in my heart and I am waiting
them on the Pakistani road  to join our  legs .
On my personal request to the organizers, and Pakistani marcher Dr
Sandeep allowed us( Mahar Safdar Ali – Muhammed Akbar ) to visit
Delhi conditionally that we will be back same day to  cross the
border. Next day.
  Here I want to pay special thanks to Mr Harsha  who gave us
tremendous heartiest and warm welcome let us meet with the
dignitaries  Like  Nirmala deshpande (didi), veteran peace activist
and Chair person Association of peoples of Asia, rajya sabha m.p.,
Madhu dandavate, veteran socialist leader, Ramajilal suman, very
vocal m.p.( along with other parliamentarians present there)
We went the Dargah hazarat Nizam ud  Aulia from where this march was
started on 23 march 2005  and offerd Fateha  the sajada nasheen
honnerd us with holy shawls and tabrik.
Governments are saying that they would now adopt a pro-people
approach in resolving their disputes and that the peace process is
irreversible, I am  afraid that the Governments do not really want
the initiative of peace process to go into the hands of the common
people. Until that happens, we cannot really say that the peace
process has become irreversible. So long as the Governments
determine the extent and the pace of peace process there is a
possibility that it may be reversed to suit geopolitical whims.
However, if free people-to-people contacts and softer borders are
indeed allowed, it would become difficult even for the Governments
to reverse the peace process.
Here I want mention one thing if we  maintain the pressure of the
march the Pakistani government will response accordingly  and we
have to do this if we want see the Indian marcher on the road of
success.
We got glorious reception on the Wahga border, villege Wahga,
Shalimar town, and in South Asia partner ship by Pakistani peace
lovers, the reception arranged by Joint action committee along with
other organizations in Lahore.
Now Indo Pak Peace march organizing committee Pakistan is going to
meet again in Multan on 24 April 2005 to see tall other
possibilities and arrangements   for the visa and peace march
process.
Best regards every step towards peace will be appreciated
Mahar Safdar Ali

Hiccups in the walk to peace
Editorial: THE NEWS, Pakistan
April 24, 2005
**************

The News (Editorial): The Indian and Pakistani peace marchers camped
for days on either side of the border at Wagah are a telling
reminder of the visa regime that restricts the people of India and
Pakistan from meeting, despite the ongoing peace process and
assurances of either government about relaxations in this regime.

The peace march started on March 23 in New Delhi from the dargah of
the great Sufi saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia and is to end on May 11
in Multan at the tomb of another great Sufi, Bahauddin Zakaria. The
route roughly traces the footsteps of Nizamuddin Aulia's journey
circa 1257 to meet the towering Sufi saint-poet Baba Farid.

Besides reinforcing the peaceful Sufi traditions of the region, the
marchers, by walking and crossing the border on foot, want to
protest against the existing visa regime that restricts ordinary
citizens of India and Pakistan from crossing the border except by
air, by road or by rail.

Given the restrictions, the marchers have been grateful for the
small mercies, like Pakistan's Interior Ministry allowing nine
Pakistanis (out of 43) to cross the Wagah border on foot to meet
marchers in India and walk back together to Multan. However,
Pakistan's refusal on April 20 to grant visas to the Indian marchers
waiting since April 18 to cross into Pakistan, for which the
government cited its inability to provide security to so many
Indians, has caused a setback to the plan. (The prominent Indian
singer Shubha Mudgal was also mystifyingly refused a visa at this
time.)

Such refusals are particularly unexpected amid the ongoing peace
talks, and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's own assurance to the
organisers at their meeting of March 12 that the visas would be
granted. The organizers had offered to convert the march into a
caravan and use buses for reaching Multan, but obviously, the
bureaucracy still rules – or overrules.

The idea that Indians and Pakistanis could walk together on roads in
each other's countries, through villages and towns, was implemented
at least symbolically, with the nine Pakistani marchers being able
to join their Indian counterparts at Amritsar before crossing back.
They are waiting a week for their Indian colleagues to join them,
and in the event the visas are still not granted, they will continue
the walk to Multan without the Indians. Their message is clear:
their struggle will continue. They report warm receptions by
ordinary villagers.

In the larger scheme of things, the intransigence of the
bureaucracies on either side must be viewed as but a hiccup, that
will eventually be overcome with political will and developing the
necessary infrastructures to deal with the demand of people on
either side to meet.

Source: www.jang.com/pk/thenews

 
Dear Aslam Bhai
Thank you very much for your quick response and the offer of media and other support in Sindh. Hope we are all able to pull it together and achieve sonething concrete.

Looking forward to meeting you in Pakistan soon
Regards
Mazher

On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 Aslam Khawja wrote :
>
>
>dear friends
>greetings
>i fully endorse the proposal by mazhar bhai and take
>responsibility to compaign it through sindhi
>media(print and electronic)of pakistan and the
>organization working in sindh because i have very few
>contacts in other parts of pakistan.
>regards
>aslam khwaja
>--- mazher  hussain <mazherhussain11@...>
>wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Dear friends
> >
> > Here is a proposal for a new campaign that could
> > possibly help us in building mass opinion against
> > missile tests and purchase of F 16s and F 18s by
> > India and Pakistan and hopefully compel both the
> > governments to rethink on these issues.
> >
> > The concept note is attached. Requesting an early
> > response to the proposal and hope all of us will be
> > able to do something together soon.
> >
> > Regards
> > Mazher
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 Harsha Vardhan wrote :
> > >
> > >INDIA PAKISTAN PEACE MARCH
> > >Delhi to Multan, 23rd March to 11th May 2005
> >
> >_____________________________________________________________________
> > >PRESS RELEASE
> > >
> > >Dated: 21 April, 2005
> > >
> > >The India Pakistan Peace March met a roadblock on
> > April 18th, 2005
> > >when it reached Wagha border as none of the Indian
> > marchers were
> > >given visas to cross over. Earlier, the Pakistani
> > marchers also had
> > >trouble in coming over to India to participate in
> > this march. First,
> > >for 10 days, the Indian Government delayed giving
> > visas to the
> > >Pakistani marchers, and then the Interior Ministry
> > of Pakistan did
> > >not allow the marchers permission to cross the
> > Wagha border for
> > >another 13 days. Nine Pakistani marchers – Saeeda
> > Diep, Aslam
> > >Khawaja, Mahar Safdar Ali, Mohammad Akbar, Ghulam
> > Hussain, Lalee,
> > >Nayyar Habib, Rafia Bano and Mitho Khan – were
> > finally able to join
> > >the march on 14th April, 2005 when the march
> > reached the banks of the
> > >river Beas.
> > >
> > >The marchers resolved that water, land and human
> > beings are one and
> > >that we do not recognize any artificial boundaries
> > dividing either
> > >the nature or the human beings. Subsequently, the
> > Pakistani marchers
> > >marched with us for the last five days of the Peace
> > March. We waited
> > >at the border for two days in the hope that we
> > would get our visas
> > >and be able to cross the border along with our
> > Pakistani friends.
> > >However, yesterday, when we saw no sign of visas
> > coming we decided to
> > >let the Pakistani marchers go ahead. The Pakistani
> > marchers are now
> > >waiting in Lahore for their Indian friends to join
> > them after
> > >obtaining their visas. In the meantime they are
> > registering a protest
> > >with their Government for not letting the Indian
> > marchers enter
> > >Pakistan. We are determined to complete the March
> > whenever we get
> > >permission from the two Governments.
> > >
> > >The promises made by the two Governments during
> > President Pervez
> > >Musharraf’s recent visit to India about encouraging
> > more
> > >people-to-people contact and making the borders
> > softer seem to ring
> > >hollow – the ground reality has not changed at all.
> > The process
> > >remains as complicated as ever; for the common
> > person it is still a
> > >nightmare to even think of crossing the border.
> > There is no
> > >relaxation in the bureaucratic hurdles consisting
> > of a number of
> > >unreasonable rules, like permission from the home
> > ministry of one’s
> > >own country even if one has the appropriate visa to
> > enter the other
> > >country, visas only for a limited number of cities,
> > strictness about
> > >port of entry, insistence regarding modes of entry
> > and exit, etc.  If
> > >the two Governments are really serious about making
> > the borders
> > >softer they must demonstrate in reality that they
> > are willing to
> > >dismantle the complicated travel regulation regime
> > existing right now
> > >between the two countries. The experiences of
> > people must validate
> > >the rhetoric of official claims.
> > >
> > >Although the Governments are saying that they would
> > now adopt a
> > >pro-people approach in resolving their disputes and
> > that the peace
> > >process is irreversible, we are afraid that the
> > Governments do not
> > >really want the initiative of peace process to go
> > into the hands of
> > >the common people. Until that happens, we cannot
> > really say that the
> > >peace process has become irreversible. So long as
> > the Governments
> > >determine the extent and the pace of peace process
> > there is a
> > >possibility that it may be reversed to suit
> > geopolitical whims.
> > >However, if free people-to-people contacts and
> > softer borders are
> > >indeed allowed, it would become difficult even for
> > the Governments to
> > >reverse the peace process. The initiative for peace
> > process must
> > >therefore be in the hands of the people and not the
> > Governments.
> > >
> > >While awaiting our visa clearances we also look for
> > signs of how
> > >honestly the two Governments transform into reality
> > the public
> > >commitments they have made at the recent meetings
> > between President
> > >Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
> > >
> > >Kuldip Nayyar, Sandeep Pandey, Nandlal Master,
> > Mahesh, Tenzin Rigzin,
> > >Sekiguchi Toyoshige.
> > >
> > >Contact: ‘Insaf’, A-124/6 Katwaria Sarai, New
> > Delhi-16, Ph: 26517814,
> > >55663958, M: 09838546900
> > >
> > >
> > >This is right time for change!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Do You Yahoo!?
> > >Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> > protection around
> > >http://mail.yahoo.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/indpakpeacemarch/
> > >
> > >    indpakpeacemarch-unsubscribe@...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
><*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
>    http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/indpakpeacemarch/
>
><*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>    indpakpeacemarch-unsubscribe@...
>
><*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
>    http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms.html
>
>
>
>

dear friends
greetings
i fully endorse the proposal by mazhar bhai and take
responsibility to compaign it through sindhi
media(print and electronic)of pakistan and the
organization working in sindh because i have very few
contacts in other parts of pakistan.
regards
aslam khwaja
--- mazher  hussain <mazherhussain11@...>
wrote:

>   
>
> Dear friends
>
> Here is a proposal for a new campaign that could
> possibly help us in building mass opinion against
> missile tests and purchase of F 16s and F 18s by
> India and Pakistan and hopefully compel both the
> governments to rethink on these issues.
>
> The concept note is attached. Requesting an early
> response to the proposal and hope all of us will be
> able to do something together soon.
>
> Regards
> Mazher
>
>
> On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 Harsha Vardhan wrote :
> >
> >INDIA PAKISTAN PEACE MARCH
> >Delhi to Multan, 23rd March to 11th May 2005
>
>_____________________________________________________________________
> >PRESS RELEASE
> >
> >Dated: 21 April, 2005
> >
> >The India Pakistan Peace March met a roadblock on
> April 18th, 2005
> >when it reached Wagha border as none of the Indian
> marchers were
> >given visas to cross over. Earlier, the Pakistani
> marchers also had
> >trouble in coming over to India to participate in
> this march. First,
> >for 10 days, the Indian Government delayed giving
> visas to the
> >Pakistani marchers, and then the Interior Ministry
> of Pakistan did
> >not allow the marchers permission to cross the
> Wagha border for
> >another 13 days. Nine Pakistani marchers – Saeeda
> Diep, Aslam
> >Khawaja, Mahar Safdar Ali, Mohammad Akbar, Ghulam
> Hussain, Lalee,
> >Nayyar Habib, Rafia Bano and Mitho Khan – were
> finally able to join
> >the march on 14th April, 2005 when the march
> reached the banks of the
> >river Beas.
> >
> >The marchers resolved that water, land and human
> beings are one and
> >that we do not recognize any artificial boundaries
> dividing either
> >the nature or the human beings. Subsequently, the
> Pakistani marchers
> >marched with us for the last five days of the Peace
> March. We waited
> >at the border for two days in the hope that we
> would get our visas
> >and be able to cross the border along with our
> Pakistani friends.
> >However, yesterday, when we saw no sign of visas
> coming we decided to
> >let the Pakistani marchers go ahead. The Pakistani
> marchers are now
> >waiting in Lahore for their Indian friends to join
> them after
> >obtaining their visas. In the meantime they are
> registering a protest
> >with their Government for not letting the Indian
> marchers enter
> >Pakistan. We are determined to complete the March
> whenever we get
> >permission from the two Governments.
> >
> >The promises made by the two Governments during
> President Pervez
> >Musharraf’s recent visit to India about encouraging
> more
> >people-to-people contact and making the borders
> softer seem to ring
> >hollow – the ground reality has not changed at all.
> The process
> >remains as complicated as ever; for the common
> person it is still a
> >nightmare to even think of crossing the border.
> There is no
> >relaxation in the bureaucratic hurdles consisting
> of a number of
> >unreasonable rules, like permission from the home
> ministry of one’s
> >own country even if one has the appropriate visa to
> enter the other
> >country, visas only for a limited number of cities,
> strictness about
> >port of entry, insistence regarding modes of entry
> and exit, etc.  If
> >the two Governments are really serious about making
> the borders
> >softer they must demonstrate in reality that they
> are willing to
> >dismantle the complicated travel regulation regime
> existing right now
> >between the two countries. The experiences of
> people must validate
> >the rhetoric of official claims.
> >
> >Although the Governments are saying that they would
> now adopt a
> >pro-people approach in resolving their disputes and
> that the peace
> >process is irreversible, we are afraid that the
> Governments do not
> >really want the initiative of peace process to go
> into the hands of
> >the common people. Until that happens, we cannot
> really say that the
> >peace process has become irreversible. So long as
> the Governments
> >determine the extent and the pace of peace process
> there is a
> >possibility that it may be reversed to suit
> geopolitical whims.
> >However, if free people-to-people contacts and
> softer borders are
> >indeed allowed, it would become difficult even for
> the Governments to
> >reverse the peace process. The initiative for peace
> process must
> >therefore be in the hands of the people and not the
> Governments.
> >
> >While awaiting our visa clearances we also look for
> signs of how
> >honestly the two Governments transform into reality
> the public
> >commitments they have made at the recent meetings
> between President
> >Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
> >
> >Kuldip Nayyar, Sandeep Pandey, Nandlal Master,
> Mahesh, Tenzin Rigzin,
> >Sekiguchi Toyoshige.
> >
> >Contact: ‘Insaf’, A-124/6 Katwaria Sarai, New
> Delhi-16, Ph: 26517814,
> >55663958, M: 09838546900
> >
> >
> >This is right time for change!
> >
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Do You Yahoo!?
> >Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around
> >http://mail.yahoo.com
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/indpakpeacemarch/
> >
> >     indpakpeacemarch-unsubscribe@...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

 

Dear friends

Here is a proposal for a new campaign that could possibly help us in building mass opinion against missile tests and purchase of F 16s and F 18s by India and Pakistan and hopefully compel both the governments to rethink on these issues.

The concept note is attached. Requesting an early response to the proposal and hope all of us will be able to do something together soon.

Regards
Mazher


On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 Harsha Vardhan wrote :
>
>INDIA PAKISTAN PEACE MARCH
>Delhi to Multan, 23rd March to 11th May 2005
>_____________________________________________________________________
>PRESS RELEASE
>
>Dated: 21 April, 2005
>
>The India Pakistan Peace March met a roadblock on April 18th, 2005
>when it reached Wagha border as none of the Indian marchers were
>given visas to cross over. Earlier, the Pakistani marchers also had
>trouble in coming over to India to participate in this march. First,
>for 10 days, the Indian Government delayed giving visas to the
>Pakistani marchers, and then the Interior Ministry of Pakistan did
>not allow the marchers permission to cross the Wagha border for
>another 13 days. Nine Pakistani marchers – Saeeda Diep, Aslam
>Khawaja, Mahar Safdar Ali, Mohammad Akbar, Ghulam Hussain, Lalee,
>Nayyar Habib, Rafia Bano and Mitho Khan – were finally able to join
>the march on 14th April, 2005 when the march reached the banks of the
>river Beas.
>
>The marchers resolved that water, land and human beings are one and
>that we do not recognize any artificial boundaries dividing either
>the nature or the human beings. Subsequently, the Pakistani marchers
>marched with us for the last five days of the Peace March. We waited
>at the border for two days in the hope that we would get our visas
>and be able to cross the border along with our Pakistani friends.
>However, yesterday, when we saw no sign of visas coming we decided to
>let the Pakistani marchers go ahead. The Pakistani marchers are now
>waiting in Lahore for their Indian friends to join them after
>obtaining their visas. In the meantime they are registering a protest
>with their Government for not letting the Indian marchers enter
>Pakistan. We are determined to complete the March whenever we get
>permission from the two Governments.
>
>The promises made by the two Governments during President Pervez
>Musharraf’s recent visit to India about encouraging more
>people-to-people contact and making the borders softer seem to ring
>hollow – the ground reality has not changed at all. The process
>remains as complicated as ever; for the common person it is still a
>nightmare to even think of crossing the border. There is no
>relaxation in the bureaucratic hurdles consisting of a number of
>unreasonable rules, like permission from the home ministry of one’s
>own country even if one has the appropriate visa to enter the other
>country, visas only for a limited number of cities, strictness about
>port of entry, insistence regarding modes of entry and exit, etc.  If
>the two Governments are really serious about making the borders
>softer they must demonstrate in reality that they are willing to
>dismantle the complicated travel regulation regime existing right now
>between the two countries. The experiences of people must validate
>the rhetoric of official claims.
>
>Although the Governments are saying that they would now adopt a
>pro-people approach in resolving their disputes and that the peace
>process is irreversible, we are afraid that the Governments do not
>really want the initiative of peace process to go into the hands of
>the common people. Until that happens, we cannot really say that the
>peace process has become irreversible. So long as the Governments
>determine the extent and the pace of peace process there is a
>possibility that it may be reversed to suit geopolitical whims.
>However, if free people-to-people contacts and softer borders are
>indeed allowed, it would become difficult even for the Governments to
>reverse the peace process. The initiative for peace process must
>therefore be in the hands of the people and not the Governments.
>
>While awaiting our visa clearances we also look for signs of how
>honestly the two Governments transform into reality the public
>commitments they have made at the recent meetings between President
>Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
>
>Kuldip Nayyar, Sandeep Pandey, Nandlal Master, Mahesh, Tenzin Rigzin,
>Sekiguchi Toyoshige.
>
>Contact: ‘Insaf’, A-124/6 Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-16, Ph: 26517814,
>55663958, M: 09838546900
>
>
>This is right time for change!
>
>
>
>__________________________________________________
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>
>
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>
><*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
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>
><*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>    indpakpeacemarch-unsubscribe@...
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>
>
>
>

dear friend
greetings from lahore
i agree with you and for this we have planned many
joint activities with our indian friends durin peace
march in india and hopefully same will happen during
march in pakistan.
regards
aslam khwaja
--- abhi10th <abhi10th@...> wrote:

>
>
> dear friend,india and pakistan is a devloping
> country and according
> to my opinion both country's should be need
> integrated approach for
> the betterment of agricultural,village
> devlopment,science and
> tech.,education,sanitation,energy sectar and many
> more.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
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dear harsha
greetings from lahore
how can i forget sandeep jee but he was every where in
the march so you have to just feel him not mentionig
him.thanks for reading my mail so seriesly.see you in
lahore soon where i will take your charge to recieve
friends.
regards
aslam khwaja
--- Harsha Vardhan <mumbaikar100@...> wrote:

> dear aslam,
>
> you forgot to mention sandeep's name in marcher's
> list.
> the same..who dictates all his terms with indian and
> pakistani
> marchers, behaves like dictator and talks of
> democracy all the
> time.
>
> bye
> harsha
>
>
>
> This is right time for change!
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>


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dear friends
greetings from lahore
i was one of the nine pakistani passport holders who
cross the wagha border on 20 april. one 21 april
morning there was no sheetal jee who try to awake us
on time to march onward,there was no mundra jee who
care that who will take tea with milk,who will without
milk and who will take coffee, there was no sanat
whose smile was as fresh as morning,there was no
faisal khan whom we have a shouting debate on any
topic under the sun,there was'nt monica who give us
the gesture of a commrade, there was no tinzen whose
face was always satisfied as budha's. there was no
nadlal who was always the source of inspiration for me
who live in a country which is virtualy rule by
multinationals,there was no mahesh who was walking in
day singing in evening and doing planning and
preparation for next day in night there was no manesh
who was running the motorcycle in day providing
midicine and comforft during walk and recieving coming
guest in the odd hours of night without any expression
of tiredness or complain on face. many friends call me
a tough guy but let me confess i can not bear the
sepration from friends so anybody who can bring
aslam's friends please do it because sepration is too
much for me.
aslam khwaja
--- indopakpeacemarch <indopakpeacemarch@...>
wrote:
>
>
> How serious are governments to peace?
>
>             It is indeed a shame that the peace
> march, which is one
> of the most significant peace processes initiated by
> people of India
> and Pakistan, which started on March 23, 2005 and
> was scheduled to
> cross over Wagah border on April 18, 2005, has been
> suspended at
> Wagah border since people of India didn't get
> clearance from our
> governments to cross over Wagah.
>
>             9 people from Pakistan who walked over
> Wagah border to
> join the march, had to struggle for 20 odd days in
> Pakistan to get
> the required permission, despite of the fact that
> the peace march
> had to begin without them joinin in on March 23,
> 2005.
>
>             The peace march had reached Wagah border
> on April 18,
> 2005 and was held there for 3 days since governments
> didn't give
> requisite permissions. It is indeed a shame that
> such people to
> people peace initiatives are not only undermined but
> often ignored
> near completely and high-profile diplomatic peace
> talks gain more
> significance.
>
>             On April 20, 2005, 9 Pakistani peace
> marchers crossed
> over Wagah after a big meeting in India with the
> Indian peace
> marchers. The plan of action is that Pakistani peace
> marchers will
> wait for one week in Lahore for Indian peace
> marchers to join them
> in, and in the event they are not able to join them,
> Pakistani
> people will carry forward the peace march ahead.
> There is a one day
> fast planned on May 11, 2005 on both sides of the
> Wagah border. 9
> people from Pakistan who crossed over Wagah today
> were welcomed by
> over 500 people warmly.
>
>            Governments need to be held accountable
> on the duality:
> on one hand we have their high profile peace talks,
> and on the other
> hand we have complete apathy of governments to
> people's peace
> initiatives. It is yet to be seen whether
> Governments will respond
> as expected by people of their countries.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

__________________________________________________
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dear friend,india and pakistan is a devloping country and according
to my opinion both country's should be need integrated approach for
the betterment of agricultural,village devlopment,science and
tech.,education,sanitation,energy sectar and many more.

dear aslam,

you forgot to mention sandeep's name in marcher's list.
the same..who dictates all his terms with indian and pakistani
marchers, behaves like dictator and talks of democracy all the
time.

bye
harsha



This is right time for change!



__________________________________________________
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INDIA PAKISTAN PEACE MARCH
Delhi to Multan, 23rd March to 11th May 2005
_____________________________________________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

Dated: 21 April, 2005

The India Pakistan Peace March met a roadblock on April 18th, 2005
when it reached Wagha border as none of the Indian marchers were
given visas to cross over. Earlier, the Pakistani marchers also had
trouble in coming over to India to participate in this march. First,
for 10 days, the Indian Government delayed giving visas to the
Pakistani marchers, and then the Interior Ministry of Pakistan did
not allow the marchers permission to cross the Wagha border for
another 13 days. Nine Pakistani marchers – Saeeda Diep, Aslam
Khawaja, Mahar Safdar Ali, Mohammad Akbar, Ghulam Hussain, Lalee,
Nayyar Habib, Rafia Bano and Mitho Khan – were finally able to join
the march on 14th April, 2005 when the march reached the banks of the
river Beas.

The marchers resolved that water, land and human beings are one and
that we do not recognize any artificial boundaries dividing either
the nature or the human beings. Subsequently, the Pakistani marchers
marched with us for the last five days of the Peace March. We waited
at the border for two days in the hope that we would get our visas
and be able to cross the border along with our Pakistani friends.
However, yesterday, when we saw no sign of visas coming we decided to
let the Pakistani marchers go ahead. The Pakistani marchers are now
waiting in Lahore for their Indian friends to join them after
obtaining their visas. In the meantime they are registering a protest
with their Government for not letting the Indian marchers enter
Pakistan. We are determined to complete the March whenever we get
permission from the two Governments.

The promises made by the two Governments during President Pervez
Musharraf’s recent visit to India about encouraging more
people-to-people contact and making the borders softer seem to ring
hollow – the ground reality has not changed at all. The process
remains as complicated as ever; for the common person it is still a
nightmare to even think of crossing the border. There is no
relaxation in the bureaucratic hurdles consisting of a number of
unreasonable rules, like permission from the home ministry of one’s
own country even if one has the appropriate visa to enter the other
country, visas only for a limited number of cities, strictness about
port of entry, insistence regarding modes of entry and exit, etc.  If
the two Governments are really serious about making the borders
softer they must demonstrate in reality that they are willing to
dismantle the complicated travel regulation regime existing right now
between the two countries. The experiences of people must validate
the rhetoric of official claims.

Although the Governments are saying that they would now adopt a
pro-people approach in resolving their disputes and that the peace
process is irreversible, we are afraid that the Governments do not
really want the initiative of peace process to go into the hands of
the common people. Until that happens, we cannot really say that the
peace process has become irreversible. So long as the Governments
determine the extent and the pace of peace process there is a
possibility that it may be reversed to suit geopolitical whims.
However, if free people-to-people contacts and softer borders are
indeed allowed, it would become difficult even for the Governments to
reverse the peace process. The initiative for peace process must
therefore be in the hands of the people and not the Governments.

While awaiting our visa clearances we also look for signs of how
honestly the two Governments transform into reality the public
commitments they have made at the recent meetings between President
Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Kuldip Nayyar, Sandeep Pandey, Nandlal Master, Mahesh, Tenzin Rigzin,
Sekiguchi Toyoshige.

Contact: ‘Insaf’, A-124/6 Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-16, Ph: 26517814,
55663958, M: 09838546900


This is right time for change!



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How serious are governments to peace?

             It is indeed a shame that the peace march, which is one
of the most significant peace processes initiated by people of India
and Pakistan, which started on March 23, 2005 and was scheduled to
cross over Wagah border on April 18, 2005, has been suspended at
Wagah border since people of India didn't get clearance from our
governments to cross over Wagah.

             9 people from Pakistan who walked over Wagah border to
join the march, had to struggle for 20 odd days in Pakistan to get
the required permission, despite of the fact that the peace march
had to begin without them joinin in on March 23, 2005.

             The peace march had reached Wagah border on April 18,
2005 and was held there for 3 days since governments didn't give
requisite permissions. It is indeed a shame that such people to
people peace initiatives are not only undermined but often ignored
near completely and high-profile diplomatic peace talks gain more
significance.

             On April 20, 2005, 9 Pakistani peace marchers crossed
over Wagah after a big meeting in India with the Indian peace
marchers. The plan of action is that Pakistani peace marchers will
wait for one week in Lahore for Indian peace marchers to join them
in, and in the event they are not able to join them, Pakistani
people will carry forward the peace march ahead. There is a one day
fast planned on May 11, 2005 on both sides of the Wagah border. 9
people from Pakistan who crossed over Wagah today were welcomed by
over 500 people warmly.

            Governments need to be held accountable on the duality:
on one hand we have their high profile peace talks, and on the other
hand we have complete apathy of governments to people's peace
initiatives. It is yet to be seen whether Governments will respond
as expected by people of their countries.

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Dear Friends,

It is pity that our Indian peace marchers could not cross the border due to
non issuance of visa by Pakistan government. A big gathering of peace
activists received Pakistani peace marchers at Wahga border today. Please
find attached some pictures taken at Wahga.

Pictures By: Khalid



Regards,

Khalid Mahmood
Programme Manager,
Labour Education Foundation

dear friends,

in spite of all confusions and disappointments on visas for indian
marchers, we are enjoying the experience of meeting pakistani
marchers and spending time with all of them.

mahar safdar ali and mohammad akbar tool some time off from walking
schedules and visited delhi to meet friends and supporters of peace
process.

we met madhu dandavate, veteran socialist leader & ex-cabinet
minister. thanks to Sunilamji,fellow marcher and MLA from madhya
pradesh who fixed up the meeting. madhu dandavate is living witness
of some of good moves and historic mistakes made by either sides in
peace process , seemed to be happy with the current scene.

then we met ramajilal suman, very vocal m.p.(equivalent of  m.n.a. in
pakistan) . he is from agra (U.P.) and parliament leader of Samajwadi
party. he was speaking mostly of defense budgets and their increasing
size. safdar had a question to ask ,"why india is not reducing the
budgets, pak is military driven anyway. so your democracy ,too, has
its limitations in implementing right thoughts?" safdar will write
more on this …

suman was keen to know about visa issue and was ready to ask question
in a parliament.

then we met nirmala deshpande (didi), veteran peace activist and
rajya sabha m.p., she was happy to see both safdarji and mohammadji
in delhi. she was just out of  hectic three days schedule of parvez
musharraf's India visit. She has been help for all peace activists
over long period.

as the dead line of crossing the border was approaching fast, we
could not spend time in some good places in delhi, neither could do
some shopping. Finishing 12 minutes dinner, we rushed to catch last
bus to amritsar .it was about to leave.

we could speak a lot with each other and it was exciting for me, I
knew pakistan only through books , songs,  pictures and movies till
a month back.

bye
Harsha





This is right time for change!



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INDIA PAKISTAN PEACE MARCH
Delhi to Multan, 23rd March to 11th May 2005

Press Invite


India Pakistan Peace March started on 23rd March from New Delhi. This
people to people initiative is lead by Dr.Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay
Awardee and noted social activist, with the objective of building
peace & harmony between two countries. The march was well received by
citizens along its route and after walking around 500 kms, the
marchers reached Wagha border on 20th April.

Nine Pakistani Marchers were able to get visas and clearances from
Indian and Pak governments. They historically walked on Indian roads
for the cause of peace from 14th April to 20th April. However, the
visas have not been granted to Indian Marchers, they could not cross
wagha and walk on Pakistan roads. In spite of Sandeep Pandey’s
meeting with Pak Prime Minister Shoukat Aziz on 12th March in
Islamabad and Pak PM’s assurances for supporting the cause, Indian
Marchers did not get visas to walk across.

Pakistani peace marchers have crossed Wagha border on 20th April and
they will walk to Multan (Pakistan) where March will end on 11th of
May with concluding ceremony.

To express our feelings in this regard and give more information
about our plans further, we are arranging the press conference.

Venue: Press Club, Raisina Road, New Delhi
Time: 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm, 21st April, 2005

Speakers:   Sandeep Pandey and fellow marchers



With warm regards


Harshavardhan Purandare 	 Shree Prakash
Asha For Education 	 INSAF
M: 0-9322696617 		 M: 9818030423 mumbaikar100@...
insafindia@...

Contact: INSAF, A124/6 Katwaria Sarai New Delhi 110016, Tel: 26517814
/55663958

Supported By: Kuldip Nayyar, Nirmala Deshpande, Medha Patkar, Aruna
Roy, Anil Chaudhary, Mahesh Bhatt, Meera, Nandita Das, Nafisa Ali and
Ghazal Srinivas.


This is right time for change!



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