Will India, Pakistan End Hostilities? 100+ Eminent Citizens Write To PM Modi, Shehbaz Sharif To Restore Peace

Last Updated:July 01, 2026, 11:55 IST

From India, the signatories included Farooq Abdullah, separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, RJD MP Manoj Jha and AJUP leader Humayun Kabir.

A year after Operation Sindoor, more than 100 prominent citizens from India and Pakistan have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, to take meaningful and sustained steps towards restoring peace, dialogue and normal relations between the two countries.

The appeal, issued by the Centre for Peace and Progress, was signed by 117 people from both sides of the border. The signatories urged the two governments to end the continued hostility, saying it was depriving millions of young people of opportunities, prosperity and a secure future.

Among the key demands were the restoration of full diplomatic relations, the reinstatement of High Commissioners in New Delhi and Islamabad, and the resumption of normal visa services for citizens of both countries.

Political leaders among signatories

The letter was signed by 61 prominent figures from India and 56 from Pakistan.

From India, the signatories included National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, RJD MP Manoj Jha and AJUP leader Humayun Kabir.

On the Pakistan side, the signatories included former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, National Assembly member Isphanyar Bhandara and nuclear physicist and author Pervez Hoodbhoy.

Call for dialogue

The letter said India and Pakistan together are home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s population, with a large share comprising young people. “The people of both countries deserve a future defined by peace, development, connectivity and cooperation, rather than perpetual mistrust and confrontation," the letter stated.

It added that decades of estrangement had limited the collective potential of both countries while imposing significant social, economic and human costs.

According to the signatories, sustained engagement and dialogue remain the only viable way to resolve differences and build a stable and prosperous region.

The group urged the two Prime Ministers to restore full diplomatic relations, appoint High Commissioners in New Delhi and Islamabad, and resume regular visa services.

Suggestions to improve connectivity

The signatories also called for the reopening of a structured bilateral dialogue covering all outstanding issues. These included discussions on Jammu and Kashmir, revisiting the framework negotiated between 2004 and 2007, taking steps towards demilitarisation and de-escalation, while addressing the legitimate security concerns of both countries.

The letter further proposed reopening the Attari-Wagah land border for trade and travel and restoring the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service along with other connectivity initiatives.

It also sought the reopening of airspace for commercial airlines to reduce travel time and costs and improve connectivity between the two countries.

The signatories urged both governments to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as a confidence-building measure. They also called for opening Sharada Peeth, the sacred religious site of Kashmiri Pandits located in Pakistan’s Neelum Valley, and facilitating visits to religious and cultural heritage sites on both sides of the border.

‘Choose engagement over isolation’

Appealing directly to the two Prime Ministers, the letter urged them to respond to the aspirations of ordinary citizens.

“We respectfully request you to listen to the aspirations of common people and choose engagement over isolation, dialogue over hostility and cooperation over confrontation. The future of South Asia should be shaped not by division and conflict, but by peace, prosperity and shared progress," it said.

The signatories also clarified that the appeal was not intended to endorse any political position but was aimed at placing the welfare and future of nearly two billion people above conflict and division. They said peace, dialogue and cooperation remain the surest path towards a stable, prosperous and secure South Asia.

About the Author

Shuddhanta Patra

Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen...Read More

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