Journeys to democracy

Lahore, 28 Feb: Salima Hashmi holds up a placard demanding that Pakistan return the captured Indian Air Force pilot – a step that Pakistan announced that day.

As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to keep the region hostage people everywhere are stepping up to urge the governments to resolve all issues through dialogue. They include:

• An upcoming Global StandOut For Peace in South Asia in over 17 cities around the world Sunday — updates on locations and times at this Facebook page (details below);
• 27 Feb demonstrations in cities around Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar included the  demand for Pakistan to return the captured IAF pilot. A few of the many calls to de-escalate tensions and stop the war-mongering include:
• Women’s Statement India Pakistan – Women’s Regional Network meeting, Kuala Lumpur
• Dance and theatre activist Sheema Kermani’s Feb 22 widely-endorsed Appeal to Artists and Peace-Loving Citizens  
• ‘Appeal for Reason’ from over 600 concerned citizens on Indo-Pak tensions 
• Pakistani Women Say No To War, Urge Indians to Call for Peace

India, Pakistan #NOWAR #SayNoToWar: Global StandOut for Peace in South Asia 

Feb 28, 2019: In a response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, peace-lovers around the globe are joining hands in a Global StandOut for Peace in South Asia. The citizen- initiated event, taking place on Sunday March 3, across various cities globally, was started by Indians and Pakistanis who believe their countries should have good neighborly relations with all issues resolved through dialogue.

We invite peace activists to join where ever in the world they are and stand in solidarity against, war, violence and bigotry in South Asia where tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have held the region hostage for too long.

StandOuts will take place in cities in USA, UK, Ireland, Norway, India and Pakistan so far on Sunday: Washington, D.C. (Dupont Circle, 3 pm), Boston (MIT main entrance, 4:30-5.30 pm), London (Tavistock Square, 2-4 pm), New York (Peace Fountain, 110^th Street, 2-3 pm), Dallas (Al Markaz restaurant, 12 noon), Michigan (22575, Ann Harbor Tri, Dearborn Heights, 6 pm), Lahore (Liberty Chowk, 7-9 pm), Delhi (Red Fort, 8 pm), Kolkata (Iran Society, 5 pm), Dublin (the Spire, 3 pm), Karachi, (Beach Luxury Hotel, 6 pm), Los Angeles (Pasedena Public Library, 2:30-4:30 pm). Standouts are also taking place in Oslo and San Francisco Sunday (time and place tbd), and on Monday March 4 in Providence, RI (Brown University, Faunce Steps, 12 noon).

People in other places are welcome to join. Those who would like to but are unable to reach a designated venue are invited to get together with friends any time Sunday, 3 March. Carry signs of support in a public space or landmark, then take a picture and share it with the hashtags: #NoWar #SayNoToWar #iStandForPeace #iStandAgainstWar #PeaceInSouthAsia #GlobalStandOutForPeace. You are welcome to include slogans like “I am Indian and I stand with Pakistani peacemongers” or “I am Pakistani and I stand with Indian peacemongers”.

SOME PIX FROM PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS IN PAKISTAN 28 FEB 2019.

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Filed under: Kashmir, Pakistan-India, Resistance, Terrorism, Violence in the name of religion | Tagged: Abhinandan, IAF pilot, India, Pakistan, Peace demo, POW |