Appeal to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan by Concerned Citizens

forge 1 week ago

0 29 3 minutes read

Mr. Narendra Modi Mr. Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister of India Prime Minister of Pakistan
New Delhi Islamabad

Appeal to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan by Concerned Citizens
Date: 30.06.2026

Respected Prime Ministers,

We, the undersigned citizens, respectfully urge the Governments of India and Pakistan to take
meaningful and sustained steps towards restoring peace, normalcy, dialogue and cooperation
in South Asia.
India and Pakistan together are home to nearly one-fifth of humanity. A large proportion of
our population is young. Continued hostility deprives millions of young people of
opportunities, prosperity and a secure future.
The people of both countries deserve a future defined by peace, development, connectivity
and cooperation, rather than perpetual mistrust and confrontation. Decades of estrangement
has hindered our collective potential and imposed significant social, economic and human
costs.
We believe that sustained engagement and dialogue remain the only viable path to resolving
differences and building a stable and prosperous region.
We, therefore, respectfully urge you to consider the following confidence-building measures:
Immediate Diplomatic Measures

Restoring full diplomatic relations and reinstating High Commissioners in New Delhi and
Islamabad.
Resuming normal visa services for citizens of both countries.
Resume Structured Dialogue
Reopening comprehensive bilateral dialogue on all outstanding issues.
Resume discussions on Jammu and Kashmir, including revisiting the framework negotiated
between 2004 and 2007. Steps towards demilitarisation and de-escalation, to create lasting
peace in the region.
Addressing legitimate security concerns of both countries.
Reconnect People and Families
Facilitating people-to-people contact by easing travel restrictions.
Enabling exchanges among families, students, academics, journalists, artists,
businesspersons and civil society groups.
Encouraging cultural, educational, sporting and religious exchanges to rebuild trust between
societies.
Restore Trade and Economic Cooperation
Reopening trade channels and restoring normal commercial relations.
Reinstating Most Favoured Nation or equivalent non-discriminatory trade arrangements.
Promoting regional economic integration and shared prosperity.
Reopen Transport and Connectivity Links
Fully reopening the Attari-Wagah land border for trade and travel.
Resume Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service to reconnect divided families.
Resuming Delhi-Lahore bus service.
Restarting Samjhauta Express and Thar Express train services.
Opening of Kargil (Ladakh) – Skardu (Gilgit Baltistan) Route.
Reopening airspace for commercial airlines to reduce travel time and costs and improve
connectivity.
Promote Religious and Cultural Access
Reopening Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as an important confidence-building measure.
Opening Sharada Peeth (sacred religious place of Kashmiri Pandits) located in the Neelam
Valley.
Facilitating visits to religious and cultural heritage sites on both sides of the border.
Encouraging pilgrimage tourism and cultural exchanges that deepen mutual understanding.
Media Freedom and Information Exchange
Lifting restrictions on media outlets, news channels and digital platforms.
Allowing journalists from both countries to travel and work freely.
Promoting professional exchanges among media organizations to counter misinformation
and strengthen public understanding.
A Shared Future
We respectfully request you to listen to the aspirations of common people and choose
engagement over isolation, dialogue over hostility and cooperation over confrontation.
The future of South Asia should be shaped not by division and conflict, but by peace,
prosperity and shared progress.
This appeal is not an endorsement of any political position. It is a call to place the welfare,
aspirations and future of nearly two billion people above conflict, confrontation, and division.
We believe that peace, dialogue and cooperation offer the surest path towards a stable,
prosperous and secure South Asia.
Respectfully,
OP Shah
Chairman, Centre for Peace and Progress
Email: opshah.shah@forge