'What's the point if Pakistan's terrorism continues?': Experts question relevance of joint 'peace' letter

A political row has erupted after 117 prominent citizens from India and Pakistan jointly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif to take steps towards restoring peace and normalising bilateral relations.

The open letter urged both governments to initiate "concrete and sustained" efforts to revive dialogue and reduce hostility between the two neighbouring countries. However, the appeal has drawn sharply divided reactions, with some welcoming the initiative while others questioned its relevance amid continued cross-border terrorism.

Critics argued that meaningful engagement cannot take place unless Pakistan changes its approach towards terrorism, while supporters maintained that people-to-people dialogue remains an important step towards improving relations.

Critics question timing and relevance

Reacting to the letter, Major General (Retd.) Dhruv Katoch dismissed its significance, saying it was unlikely to influence government policy.

"Firstly, those who have written the letter, some are from India, some from Pakistan, but none represent either government. They are civil society members who have written such letters before. They know that nothing will come of it. If Pakistan does not change its attitude and continues with terrorism, as it has for the past 30-40 years, what is the point of such a letter? I don't think the Indian government will even consider it," he told news agency IANS.

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Congress leader Manish Tewari also questioned the motive behind the joint letter. "The massacre in Baisaran happened only 1 year 2 months and 08 days ago. Where is this pressure to normalise with Pakistan coming from,?" he wrote on social media platform X.

Geopolitical expert Sushant Sareen criticised the initiative in a post on X. Questioning the Pakistani signatories, he asked whether they rejected Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir's statements on Hindus and Muslims. He also criticised several Indian signatories, arguing that the letter ignored the central issue of cross-border terrorism.

BJP leader Ravinder Raina echoed similar views, saying that any appeal for peace should primarily be directed at Pakistan.

"If they have written a letter, that is fine, but it should be addressed to the party responsible for creating the problem. So far, it is Pakistan that has been responsible. India has always advocated peace and has consistently stood for global peace," he told the news agency.

Supporters back people-to-people dialogue

The letter also found support from some political leaders.

RJD MP Manoj Jha said initiatives encouraging dialogue between citizens of the two countries should be welcomed.

"It is important that certain proposals be placed before the governments and the heads of both countries," he told PTI. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi's views during Partition, Jha said stronger people-to-people engagement could gradually improve relations between India and Pakistan.

He also pointed to what he described as contradictions in bilateral engagement, noting that even during periods of heightened tensions, sporting ties had continued in some form.

Appeal comes amid unchanged government policy

The signatories urged Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif to take concrete and sustained measures to restore peace, dialogue and normal bilateral relations.

Among the Indian signatories are National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, RJD MP Manoj Jha, Humayun Kabir, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Jawahar Sircar.

The Pakistani signatories include former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, National Assembly member Isphanyar Bhandara and nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy.

The appeal comes even as the Indian government has repeatedly said that its position on Pakistan remains unchanged. New Delhi has consistently stated that "terror and talks cannot coexist" and that any improvement in bilateral ties will depend on Pakistan taking credible action against cross-border terrorism.