People of Indian and Pakistani origin living in the Washington area gathered around the statue of Gandhi to celebrate their respective Independence day and bring focus to peace in that region.

At the India-Pakistan border at Wagah, legislators from the two countries joined about a thousand citizens to jointly celebrate the independence of Pakistan and India on 14th and 15th August, respectively. “This event is a matter of pride,” S. L. Khosla, a lawmaker in Pakistan’s National Assembly, said. “India and Pakistan need to soften their borders and ease travel restrictions. This will bring permanent peace and solve all serious problems.”

Indian paramilitary soldiers offered sweets and fruit to their Pakistani counterparts on August 14 – Pakistan’s Independence Day. Pakistani soldiers returned the gesture the next day when India celebrated its independence.

Hours earlier, loud music blared through the night, as singers performed and children from both countries danced together on stage, cheered on by noisy spectators. Peace activists held a candle light vigil. In the distance, armed Indian guards watched from their sandbagged posts, while Pakistani soldiers listened from across the border.

Elsewhere, in various parts of the US, Indians and Pakistanis jointly celebrated independence of this region from British colonialism. In the Washington area, people from both countries joined together to reinforce the need for peace and more focused efforts between the people of these two nations. Petitions to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were signed asking that the the destruction of multiple wars be acknowledged and the victims of partition be commemorated with a monument. The people attending the rally wore signs reading peace in Hindi, Urdu and English.

Another event at Portland, in Oregon, USA also jointly celebrated the independence day of the two nations and focused on the need for peace being fundamental to development of the people of these countries. Similar events including sessions of music, dance and poetry were organized in various parts of the USA.

A version of the petition is available online at http://www.indiapakistanpeace.org/petition.html

This article and the pictures are from mailings by Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA), www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org