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Modi as PM could bode well for India-Pak ties: Aatish Taseer

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Author Aatish Taseer said a prime minister like Narendra Modi could bode well for India-Pakistan ties since there were chances that a leader with a image like his could think in clearer terms.


Taseer and author Kamila Shamsie were speaking at the session 'Letters from Across the Border: Between the Lines' on the second day of the 13th India Today Conclave on Saturday.

Giving a glimpse into her side of the story, Shamsie said, "Indian has moved to the sidelines of news stories in the past few years. Our own western borders are giving us enough troubles. India does not occupy as much space in the minds of Pakistanis as it used to be."

Shamsie stressed the role of culture in bringing together the neighbouring countries.

On the idea of India, Shamsie said, "I don't see India as an idea. For me, my uncle is a different India and so is my best friend. The hostile media is another India."

Shamsie added, "At the university I went to in America, all Indian, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis were called desis. And we used to hang out together all the time."

Without making a mention of the recent Uttar Pradesh incident in which 68 students of a Meerut college were expelled and charged with sedition for cheering for the Pakistan cricket team during the Asia Cup tie on March 2, Shamsie said she was witness to a cricket match in Karachi a few years ago when audience gave a standing ovation to a long Indian flag in the stadium.

On the hostility on both sides of border, Shamsie said it was confined to the political leadership on both sides as she found people on both sides indifferent and curious.

Taseer agreed with her on this and added that politics in countries arranges itself according to long-standing border standoffs due to vested interests while people just move on.

While both writers read out their letters, based on their observations and experience on both sides of the border, to an audience rapt in attention, they both agreed that peace is the best bet for both the nations and certainly deserves a chance.



Read more at: Modi as PM could bode well for India-Pak ties: Aatish Taseer : Conclave 2014, News - India Today
 
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