Indian, Pakistani PMs have nothing to do with LoC clashes, says journalist

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pakistan peace and friendship initiative organized Aman Chaupal at the Indus Group of Colleges here. A (1)Aman Chaupal is an interactive session wherein someone from across the border (here, India) interacts with students in a school or college. The objective of Aman Chaupal is to counter stereotypes and misconceptions. It is to show the side of India that the media never shows. This was the eleventh Aman Chaupal and the first Aman Chaupal in Pakistan. In India, Aaghaz-e-Dosti has organized ten Aman Chaupals so far. The guests for the session were Dr. Manju Dagar and Mr. Mukesh Kataria. Dr. Manju Dagar is an award winning journalist and news anchor with rich experience of anchoring with organizations like All India Radio, Doordarshan, Aakashvani and various other news channels. She hosts the well-known program “Pal Do Pal,” on channel Ru-B-Ru. Mr. Mukesh Kataria, basically from New Delhi, is the CEO and Chairman at IPCC Ireland. Additionally, Dr. Manju works as General Secretary and Mr. Mukesh Kataria as Programs Advisor for Yuvsatta (an NGO empowering youth), Chandigarh, India. Aman Chaupal was coordinated by Aliya Harir, convener (Pakistan) of Aaghaz-e-Dosti. The coordinator from Indus Group of Colleges was Mr. Junaid Abbasi, Senior Vice Principal. The session consisting of 11th grade students was initiated with Dr. Manju’s pleasing expressions on seeing the multimedia welcoming slide that read “Pakistan mai apka swagat hai” in Devnagri (Hindi) script. Dr. Manju shared her experience of meeting and interacting with Pakistani citizens for quite a number of years. Expressing her appreciation she said that Aman Chaupal is such a fantastic name as what our ancestors used to do was they used to sit under the shade of a tree and discuss the issues that concern them. Today we do not have that common tree where we  the layman can sit and discuss his/her problems so the idea of a cross border person interacting with students is yet another sort of chaupal where I think the one inch of shade is the visa that has been granted. I am here to make most of it and I am open to hear and discuss about your ideas as well. After this, the interactive session began. “India is very uncooperative in terms of bringing a solution to Kashmir issue. Why don’t you accept the UN plebiscite on Kashmir?” came from a student. “I suggest you to go and read about the Indian narrative on the issue of Kashmir and the UN resolutions. The debate would get lengthened. But to answer your question in simple words I must say that if Pakistan is affix at the UN plebiscite on Kashmir, the decision of Pakistani leaders talking with Indian or Hurriyat leaders needs a revision.” Dr. Manju Dagar continued with saying that Kashmir is not the only issues between India and Pakistan, there are millions of them but yes Pakistan and India must find out a solution to this long-standing issue in the interest of the people of the region. The Indian Kashmir enjoys the same status enjoyed by rest of the states of India. “Then why innocent people are prey of atrocities?” – asked by a student. They are prey of atrocities everywhere, my dear; be it Quetta, Kashmir, Wagha, or Mumbai. No religion teaches violence be it Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, or Sikhism, replied Manju Dagar “Why does Mr. Modi order the Indian forces to attack Pakistani soldiers?” asked a student. Dr. Manju with a gentle smile asked a counter question: Does Nawaz Sharif order the Pakistani soldiers to attack Indian forces? No. Similarly, Mr. Modi has nothing to do with the LOC clashes. The LOC tensions are created by the security forces on both sides of the border. Have you ever been informed of the causalities in India because of the firing? No. You simply trust the narrative built by your media. News is created on desk to create hype and sensitize people. Expressing about her experience of having worked with media and news channels in India, she discussed the politics of media in highlighting the negative and biased news. Mr. Aqeel, a teacher expressed that ‘Pakistan and India share the same culture, food, spices, religions, languages and much more’.]]>

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