Peaceniks light midnight candles near Wagah border - News

Peaceniks from India and Pakistan gathered near the international border between the two countries to light candles Tuesday night to mark 60 years of independence of the two South Asian neighbours.

Organised by the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch (India-Pakistan Friendship Forum), prominent personalities from both countries gathered about 30 km from Amritsar for their annual candlelight vigil close to the border.

Demanding that the border between India and Pakistan be made more flexible so that people from both countries could mix more easily, the activists felt that times could not be better for achieving greater peace between both countries.

"It is for the people of both countries to take forward the peace process now. Both countries should ease visa restrictions to allow intellectuals, businessmen, writers and journalists to travel freely between both countries," Manch founder and veteran journalist Kuldip Nayyar said.

South Asia Free Media Association secretary general Imtiaz Alam sought easy movement for residents of Lahore and Amritsar - the two cities that are only 50 km away from each other - to visit each other's city.

A few MPs from Pakistan and other personalities had arrived here Monday to be part of the candlelight vigil.

Amritsar's MP, TV host and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu also joined the candlelight vigil.

A concert of top Indian and Pakistani artistes - Dil se Dil -planned to be held at the international border was cancelled following concerns raised by Indian security agencies.

(IANS)

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