Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development IDPD and Pakistan Doctors for Peace and Development PDPD in a statement released in both the countries simultaneously today strongly condemned terrorist violence in Mumbai and expressed sympathies with the families of those killed. They paid homage to those who fought valiantly and also offered sympathy to those injured. But they expressed serious concern at the war hysteria being created on both sides of the border.
History has shown that war has nowhere solved any problem. Any conflict between India and Pakistan has a potential to trigger nuclear conflict which could be disastrous. Both the countries are among the lowest in the human development index indicators but ironically are also biggest buyers of arms in the world. Poverty coupled with social injustice provide basis to the communal, parochial and fundamentalist forces. Both the countries are affected with the virus of terrorism.
Joint efforts should be made through diplomatic and other means to check this menace and to curb terrorism. It is also imperative that all secular and democratic forces unite against those who spread communal venom of all hues which provides basis to terrorism of various kinds. We have to demarcate between the pro and anti-terrorist lobbies in the region and move cautiously through diplomatic means. In the meanwhile, people-to-people contact should be strengthened to ease the tension and continue building confidence measures for peaceful living in neighbourhood.
