Road map will usher in a new era

I FIND that the United Arab Emirates-brokered road map is an aspirant initiative that all peace-loving people of Indian extraction in South Africa must support.

Let’s park the blame game and focus on the price of peace versus the price of tension and hostilities between them. I urge South Africans to join me,

encouraged by the fact that both India and Pakistan are amenable to taking to that road map and, God willing, finding a sustainable peaceful solution. It is encouraging, as it’s reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made overtures to Prime Minister Imran Khan desiring cordial relations. May God act as an intermediary. It’s worth a shot. Why not?

As neighbouring countries, Sri Modi rightly stated that for that to happen, an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, between them both is imperative. Both countries would benefit from peaceful co-existence but both need to rein in or neutralise fundamentalists, which is a challenge that isn't insurmountable. I think Sri Modi should match his gesture through overtly reining in the RSS especially, whose pogroms against Indian Muslims is leading to fundamentalists in Pakistan reacting with terrible resolve.

I understand that both countries' military establishments are on board. Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, reportedly called for a peaceful resolution in the disputed region of Kashmir and for peace talks with India, while speaking at a seminar on security issues in Islamabad a few days ago. I pray that the road map doesn’t develop potholes. Insha Allah.

SABER AHMED JAZBHAY | Newlands West