OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN

Dear Friends,

After the recent incidents and the consequent threat of conflict between India and Pakistan I have seen a video of people walking through the Pakistani streets holding banners. The banners read, "I am a Pakistani. I don't hate India. I hate war. I am not alone. There are many people like me", "War is not the answer. Women against war" and "We demand safe return of Abhinandan Vardhman." These words prompted me to write this letter for the attention of each one of you.

I am an Indian, a senior citizen. I have no hatred for the people of Pakistan. I wish peace in both the countries. I wish both the countries to be developed in par with the developed nations. I could travel extensively through my country and could mingle with people from different parts of the country during the past few decades. I am certain to tell you that most of the people of India hold similar view of mine. We have no any born hatred towards you. We always wish the well being of our neighbours. You are our brothers and sisters. Many of us are related to each other. If you examine your DNA you can trace your ancestry here. We are one family, one people, almost one culture and civilization. Yet, for unknown reasons or for the vested interests of a few people, atleast some of you have turned against us.  It is high time that you must realise the situation and make yourselves watchful about the hidden danger within your own country.

Dear people, we must understand that we two poor nations are spending huge sum for our defence. Defence budget for the year 2018-19 for Pakistan is $9.6 billion while it is $45 billion for India. These unwanted expenditures are merely because of the mistrust between the two countries. These money could have, otherwise spent for the welfare of the people of both countries. We may also go through the economic fronts of both the nations.

Per Capita Income of India (2017) is $7,060 ppp while it is $5,830 ppp for Pakistan. Current GDP of India is $2,088 billion (world's seventh largest economy and accounts for 2.7% of world economy) while Pakistan's GDP is $273 billion (0.44% of world economy). India has a Foreign Debt $528.7 billion, it is Rs 29.861 trillion or 86.8% of the GDP for Pakistan. These figures help us to have a fair comparison of the economic status of both the nations. If we could maintain a friendly relationship, both the countries would have gained the status of developed nations by now, as we have spent unbearably huge sum on the defence fronts. When considerable number of people do not have food, cloth, medicine, houses and educational facilities we have enough money to spend for fighter planes and bombs to kill each other. As an average Indian I can tell you with strongest words that if you settle down for peace, you will never hear the first sound of the gun from India, may be the second too.

Dear friends, you must realise that Kashmir is not the issue that brings up terrorism in your country. It is not Islamic thoughts too that nurture terrorism. The fact is that Pakistan never had a government which is answerable to the people. Your country is always managed by soldiers holding arms. Until you replace this existing system with a democratically elected government you cannot have peace. While the intelligence agency of a country helps the government to have peaceful administration, your intelligence agency have become decision makers. If you review all that is being happened in your country for the past few decades you can easily find that your administrative systems are using all the available resources for the destruction of India rather than for the construction of Pakistan. The successive governments have sponsored terrorism in a massive way adding religious flavour to it. The world is looking at you as a terrorist country. Are you happy with this status? What is the net gain for the people from the growth of terrorism within your country?  What for you have allowed a notorious Indian criminal a safe and comfortable dwelling place in your country when many of your own people do not have decent roof to live under. It is high time that you should change your outlook towards yourselves and the world around you. You may focus your attention towards bringing up the standard of living of your people in par with the developed countries. If you can maintain peaceful relationship with your neighbours including India you can have a quantum leap in your domestic growth. Kashmir should not be considered as a barrier for your own growth. If you look at honestly you can find that no Pakistani citizen is in any way concerned with Kashmir. It is an issue merely created in the name of Islam by the terrorist groups for their own gains. If Kashmir is given to you what better living you can offer for the Kashmiri people when you yourselves are finding it hard to meet both ends together. Their condition shall be pitiful. Government of India is spending huge sum now for the development of Kashmir. If you take the safety and security of Islamic people I can undoubtedly tell you that India is one of the safest countries in the world for them to live in.

If you can maintain an average relationship with India you can have tremendous boost in all round economic development. We can have large amount of trade  between us. India can contribute much for industrial development of your country. You can have more infrastructure, educational and health facilities. Just think on it and have realistic approach on matters pertaining to the happiness of fellow citizens ad peace within the country. Tourism will bring huge income for both countries. Both of us can visit each other and exchange goodwill.

Another catastrophe looming large is your excessive attachment to China. The way it is shaping up, it will not be too far when China will be sitting at the helm of affairs of your country. You may not be able to believe that all that is being happening about Kashmir in the recent times are instigated by your new friend to ensure the safety of their road that connecting Pakistan and beyond. They always look for weaker neighbours. They cannot afford the economic growth of India. Out of the 14 neighbours sharing borders with them, they have dispute with 13, according to international media reports.

Dear friends, you must sit together and evaluate what is happening in your country. Try to avoid fixing blame on India for all that wrong taking place in your country. Erase terrorism from your country for ever. Love each other and love your neighbours. Let us remain friends for ever and help each other as and when needed. I can tell you undoubtedly that India will be you most trustworthy friend in the world.

With regards,
KV George