On behalf of the people of Pakistan, it is with great respect and anticipation that we welcome you on your maiden visit to our country in connection with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Islamabad. This visit holds profound significance, not only in the context of the multilateral framework of the SCO but also in the historical narrative of our bilateral relationship. At this pivotal moment, we must seize the opportunity to reflect on our shared history, our present challenges, and, most importantly, the immense potential of a peaceful and prosperous future for both India and Pakistan.
As we welcome you, we extend our warm wishes to all the people of India for a happy, peaceful, and prosperous future. We, the people of Pakistan, would like to communicate to our Indian brothers and sisters that if we are to genuinely pursue friendship, that friendship must be true, devoid of pretension or hypocrisy. Authentic relations can only be built on the foundation of mutual respect, understanding, and a sincere commitment to peace. It is in this spirit that we urge both our nations to move beyond the distrust that has defined much of our shared history and to embark on a new journey of cooperation.
The truth is, neither Pakistan nor India has anything to gain from hostilities. Even if, hypothetically, either side harboured ambitions of domination, the reality of today’s world, particularly in light of our nuclear capabilities, renders such notions futile. A conflict between our nations would bring nothing but devastation for both, and indeed, for the broader region. The idea that one can emerge victorious without severe consequences is an illusion. We are intertwined not only by geography but by the shared futures of over one and a half billion people. It is time to recognize that war, in any form, is not an option — for either of us.
So why continue to waste precious time, energy, and resources in sustaining policies of enmity that only perpetuate this futile cycle of hatred? Why should we remain prisoners of the past, clinging to historical grievances that offer no solution for the future?
It is time to bury the bitterness of the past and embrace a new era of genuine friendship, akin to the remarkable transformation witnessed in Europe. There, nations that were once bitter enemies — countries that fought two devastating world wars — now live in peace and harmony.
Their borders are open, their economies integrated, and their collective energies focused on development and progress rather than conflict. Europe’s story is one of reconciliation and renewal, and it serves as an inspiring example for South Asia.
We echo the timeless sentiment: Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Let us, too, have genuine peace — not the mere absence of war, but the presence of trust, cooperation, and mutual benefit. Let us take the bold step of removing military forces from our borders, not out of weakness or naiveté, but out of the confidence that peace is the only path forward. By doing so, we would signal to the world, and to each other, that we are serious about our commitment to a peaceful subcontinent.
Together, let us wage a war, not against each other, but against the true enemies of our people: poverty, hunger, disease, and illiteracy. Let us transform our region into a bastion of peace and a haven of prosperity, where future generations can live without the shadow of conflict hanging over them. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.
India and Pakistan, with their rich histories and immense human potential, only need a decade of genuine peace to emerge as global economic and cultural powerhouses.
The talent, creativity, and resilience of our peoples, once unburdened by conflict, will propel both nations to unprecedented heights. But this transformation hinges on one critical condition: authentic peace. A peace that mirrors the unity of Europe, a region once riddled with conflict but now thriving as a model of cooperation and collective progress.
Why should India and Pakistan continue on a path that keeps us divided, much like the Koreas? Why not strive instead to emulate the unity of Europe, where former adversaries now work hand-in-hand for the common good? Europe’s success was born out of pragmatism, not sentimentality. It was the realization that cooperation, not conflict, was the key to a brighter future.
Today, both India and Pakistan possess nuclear arsenals, and the concept of one nation “conquering” the other has been rendered obsolete. A full-scale war between us, especially a nuclear one, would result in mutual destruction, leaving no winners, only desolation. The very idea of a “victory” through war is a dangerous delusion. History has shown us, through figures like Hitler and Mussolini, that such ambitions only lead to catastrophe.
Thus, peace is not just a choice for India and Pakistan — it is the only option. Challenges between our nations will always exist, but we must prioritize peace above all else. It is time to transcend our differences, not by ignoring them, but by managing them in a way that fosters understanding rather than conflict.
One key issue that continues to strain our relationship is Kashmir, the unfinished agenda of the partition. While this issue remains deeply emotional and complex, it must be resolved fairly, with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people at the forefront.
The UN resolutions provide a framework, but the best way forward may be to give the people of Kashmir, on both sides of the Line of Control, a ten-year cooling-off period. During this time, unhindered trade and hassle-free travel should be allowed, enabling Kashmiris to build bridges of understanding.
Excellency, let us turn a new page in our history with a simple yet profound slogan: Long live the friendship of the teeming millions of India and Pakistan. Together, we can build a future where both our nations thrive, and our people prosper in peace and harmony. Best wishes for your visit, Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad Lahore, Pakistan
—The author writes on strategic, political, economic, current affairs & sports.
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