- Indian and Pakistani expatriates in the UAE say that the youth need to call for peace.
Dubai: The past few days have been traumatic for most Indian and Pakistani expatriates in the UAE, as each day brings a new escalation in the ongoing war of words and weapons between the two countries, which began with the attack in Pulwama killing 49 Indian soldiers, on Valentine’s Day - a day dedicated to love, globally.
They spoke to Gulf News to express their frustration and anguish with what is happening back home, and appeal to their nation’s leaders to let peace and prudence prevail.
Dubai-based Indian architectural lighting designer Danish Sayed, 26 years, said: “Enough! Everything is related to geopolitics, it is not about the people anymore. Both the sides are trying to get political mileage out of this.
“I don’t think this situation will get out of control but both sides will be taking political benefit out of this. There is a growing need for peace, both the countries have relatively new leadership and they need to work together on a lot of things. It’s been 70 years, enough of this. I don’t want the future generations to be fighting for the next 70 years!”
It’s been 70 years, enough of this. I don’t want the future generations to be fighting for the next 70 years
A sentiment reiterated by Chetna Buxani, 44-year-old Indian CEO of a UAE-based company. She emphasised the need to call for peace and calm, even on an individual level, as opposed to indulging in “keyboard war-mongering”.
“I feel its very important for people of both the countries to understand the need for peace. The governments need to focus on creating a peaceful atmosphere. Also, a peaceful neighbourhood can only be created when it starts at an individual level. Each person needs to take it upon themselves to ensure this, no matter which side you belong to. When we work as individuals aiming for the same goal, the bigger picture or goal is easier to achieve.”
A peaceful neighbourhood can only be created when it starts at an individual level.
Emaan Asad, a 22-year-old Pakistani web developer based in Dubai added that the voice of change needs come from the younger generation. She focused on the long-term impact that global conflicts have.
“It’s unfortunate that after all these years, the countries still haven’t found peace. War is definitely not the way or the answer to resolve the differences. I also believe in the younger generation being the advocate of change and peace between the two countries, until then we can only hope and pray for less damage and more solutions through peace. Asking for war is easy but no one estimates the repercussions and the damages can last a lifetime!”
Asking for war is easy but no one estimates the repercussions and the damages can last a lifetime!
Qasim Ali, a 23-year-old Sharjah-based Pakistani design engineer raised the issue of both countries having nuclear capabilities and how the repercussions of that are “unthinkable”.
Ali said: “Any kind of a loss is a sad thing and it just doesn’t matter whether it’s in India or Pakistan. Both being nuclear powers can make this scenario really messy so I think both should refrain from engaging in any kind of activity which could end up in something really dangerous and scary. A small activity from India can lead to greater revert from Pakistan and vice versa, so the best both can do is sit on a table and talk this out as suggested earlier by Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan.”
Both being nuclear powers can make this scenario really messy so I think both should refrain from engaging in any kind of activity which could end up in something really dangerous and scary.
Others were more scathing in their response, with bringing the focus to political gain and the plight of the common man, who would face the maximum impact of a war or even a state of war.
Rajeev Rathisan, 36-year-old Indian Purchaser working in Dubai, told gulfnews.com: “I’ve been following this India-Pakistan situation for the past one week and it seems to be snowballing real quick. But the worst is people bickering and thinking warmongering is okay on social media.
“Here, in the UAE, both nationalities live in peace like brothers, work together day in and out, many a times even live together, but when we discuss the situation back home, we are worried.
“We need to understand that we are inviting trouble and terrorism. It is politicians like Narendra Modi, who are creating this situation and extremists are supporting the idea of war not realising that the result will be unimaginable. And in the end, people who get hurt or die will be our soldiers from both sides who belong to regular families and innocent civilians who only want a peaceful life. Why can’t we co-exist normally and stop this immaturity?”
... in the end, people who get hurt or die will be our soldiers from both sides who belong to regular families and innocent civilians who only want a peaceful life.
Indian medical director Dr Hillol Kanti Pal, 58 years old, said that the “current situation is of no major advantage for either side. There are no real gainers in this.”
He is of the opinion that matters should never have escalated. “A low intensity war has bogged down the two countries for a very long time. We should give peace a chance. Culturally, Indians and Pakistanis are similar and nobody wins in this situation. There is a reason and many historical events in the build-up to what we are seeing today and unfortunately half-baked knowledge of the situation can give it different colours and make matters worse. We should agree to exist side by side in peace and the this only possible through dialogue, looking at this historical issue in a mature way. Everywhere in the world Indians and Pakistanis have existed peacefully side by side. There is no reason why it we cannot have a heart-to-heart dialogue on this complex issue as well.”
There is a reason and many historical events in the build-up to what we are seeing today and unfortunately half-baked knowledge of the situation can give it different colours and make matters worse.
The whole situation is petrifying, especially since my family lives in Pakistan.
Hashim Noor, a 24-year-old Pakistani computer programmer talked about the safety of his family. “The whole situation is petrifying, especially since my family lives in Pakistan. Such high tensions between two nuclear powers is extremely dangerous and if things were to escalate it can have dire consequences for the entire region. We as common people on both sides of the border should absolutely stop war mongering and propagate the message of peace.”
Ahmad Eftekhar, a 50-year-old expatriate Pakistani national of Kashmiri origin, had the strongest words against the ongoing conflict.
“War is definitely not the answer and the international community needs to get involved and help the two nations reach a solution. The consequences of war are terrible and especially when it’s between two nuclear powers like Pakistan and India. We see examples from around the world who are suffering from war, we don’t want to be that,” he said.
- Evangeline Elsa/Community Solutions Editor, Huda Tabrez/Community Web Editor, Falah Gulzar/Social Media Journalist and Anupa Kurian-Murshed/Social Media Editor
