India, Pakistan light the fire

AMRITSAR: “It just takes a candle to spread a new light,” said Imtiaz Alam, former minister in Pakistan, when he, along with 35 other Pakistan nationals lit candles on Monday night on the Indo-Pak border at Wagah.

While the BSF jawans and the Pakistani Rangers kept a hawk-like vigil on both sides of the border, hundreds of peace-loving people from both sides of the border assembled with a quiet message, “Let the people of the two countries get together and revive their cultural and family ties to help bring peace between the two nations.”

For the first time in the last ten years, the Pakistan delegation joined compatriots in India to observe candle-light vigil on the Indo-Pak border to reinforce the message of amity and friendship between the two nations. The Pakistan delegation comprised of four members of provincial assembly and Ehtijaz Hassan, former home minister of Pakistan.

On the Indian side, veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, accompanied by former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, and senior human rights activist Rajinder Sachhar led hundreds of people who assembled on the intervening night of August 14 and 15 at the Indo-Pak friendship statue close to the border with a message of peace and amity between India and Pakistan.

The serene atmosphere on the border reverberated with Sufi qawalis and songs sung by Punjabi folk singers like Hans Raj Hans. Kuldip Nayyar said: “Every year we choose the night of August 14 because it is significant for both the countries. We are joining Pakistan on their Independence day as well conveying our greetings on India’s Independence Day as well.”