117 Indian and Pakistani figures call for dialogue

More than 100 prominent citizens from India and Pakistan have jointly appealed to their prime ministers to restore diplomatic dialogue and take concrete steps toward lasting peace, arguing that continued hostility is depriving a generation of opportunities and security.

The open letter, issued on Tuesday by the Centre for Peace and Progress and signed by 117 individuals, was addressed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The signatories include 61 Indians and 56 Pakistanis, encompassing political figures, former diplomats, academics, and civil society leaders.

Notable Indian signatories include National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The Pakistani signatories are led by former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, and nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy.

The letter states that decades of estrangement have hindered the collective potential of both nations, which together are home to nearly one-fifth of humanity. It emphasizes that a large proportion of the population is young and deserves a future...