Activist begins Indo-Pak peace journey through 21 countries

A young British Pakistani community activist on Wednesday began a road journey through 21 countries to emphasise the need for peace between India and Pakistan.

Star Malik started his journey today, December 12, 2012 (12.12.12) at 12:12:12 hrs to promote "better relations between India and Pakistan", which will end in India via Pakistan.

His car has been adorned with messages of friendships and flags of India, Pakistan and England.

Malik said his "quest for peace is inspired by 'Aman Ki Asha' campaign which aims to reduce the differences between the two South Asian neighbours.

He will travel through three subcontinents to reach Pakistan and then India to meet his idols, cricketer Imran Khan in Pakistan and film star Amitabh Bachchan in India.

At the first stage of his journey, Malik will go to Europe and after that Middle East and then finally India and Pakistan.

"I will first go to Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, via Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, France, Greece and after coming back in the UK, I will ship my car to Kuwait and then will travel from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, UAE and then again the car will be shipped to Pakistan and the journey will resume to India," he said.

Malik intends to meet ordinary Indians and Pakistanis during his journey and will ask them how relations can be improved between both nations.

"Indian and Pakistanis living in Europe can tell their governments based on their experience how neighbours can live in peace and harmony, without spending billions every year on killing machines. These nations fought each in the Second World war but they don't fight anymore," he said.

Malik started tuning into Asian radios and television in 2007 when he was diagnosed with Kerataconus, an eye disease.

Due to the illness, he started listening to current affairs to pass time and learned a great deal about the conflict between the two countries.

"That changed my perspective and I thought we all must make efforts to bring change in India-Pakistan relations," says Malik, who is also an aspiring singer and wants to release an album with the message of peace.

Malik will be carrying a folder with him in which he will take messages from the people whom he will meet during the journey.

"I will present this folder to Imran Khan and Amitabh Bachchan at the end of my journey," he said.

Malik hopes that his journey will be successful and if everything goes according to his plan then at the end of it he will auction his car to "open a Star Malik Peace Centre in both countries".