Indo-Pak peace activists issue joint statement urging calm and justice after Pahalgam tragedy

By A Representative

In the wake of the devastating Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, leading journalists, intellectuals, and peace activists from India and Pakistan have issued a joint statement condemning the violence and calling for restraint, credible investigation, and renewed dialogue between the two nations.

On 22 April, five armed militants attacked tourists in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deadliest assault on civilians in India since 2008. The Resistance Front, initially claiming responsibility, later retracted, while the attack has sharply escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, leading to border skirmishes and diplomatic expulsions.

In their urgent press release, the peace activists unequivocally condemned the targeting of innocent tourists and demanded a thorough, impartial investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible. They expressed grave concern over the rapid deterioration of India-Pakistan relations and warned against the dangers of war hysteria and military escalation.

“We are of the considered view that fanning war hysteria and perpetuating ongoing tension into any kind of military conflict would be extremely destructive for our countries and peace-loving people. The logic of dialogue must prevail over the madness of the weapons of destruction,” the statement read.

The joint appeal, signed by prominent figures from both countries-including Imtiaz Alam (SAFMA), Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami, Saleema Hashmi, O.P. Shah, John Dayal, Kumar Ketkar, and others-urged both governments to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table for a peaceful resolution of disputes.

The statement comes as international actors, including the UN and several major powers, have called for restraint and dialogue, while both nations have taken retaliatory diplomatic and military steps. The activists’ call highlights the urgent need for calm, justice for the victims, and a renewed commitment to peace in the subcontinent.

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

The politics of dreaming: Savita Singh's feminist imagination

By Ravi Ranjan* In contemporary Hindi poetry, few voices have explored the philosophical and creative possibilities of women's experience as powerfully as Savita Singh. Across collections such as "Svapna Samay" (Dream Time), Aapne Jaisa Jeevan, and "Prem Bhi Ek Yatana" Hai, she has developed a poetic world in which woman is not merely a subject of suffering or social commentary but a creator of knowledge, meaning, and alternative realities.

Counterview

Search This Blog