May all gun barrels become flutes

DUBAI: It’s not just in India that the Aman ki Asha spirit has permeated. Around 2,500 people attended a Hind-o-Pak Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan at Dubai’s Sheikh Rashid Auditorium. Hamari Association had organised the event in collaboration with Pakistan’s Jang Group and The Times of India’s peace initiative to showcase the shared culture of the two countries in January.
Poet Rahat Andori presided over the event while Indian Consul General Sanjay Varma was the chief guest last month.
Varma said shared culture can bring the countries together. “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is my favourite singer. It does not take long to unite India and Pakistan through his songs,” he said. “We have heard wonderful poetry at this event, which is a message to the politicians of both countries who prevent good relations. Please take this Aman ki Asha and share it with your friends and family.”
Poet Kamar Vishvash said said the two countries are paying the price for Partition. “Instead of food we buy guns and ammunition. I pray that Allah would change all the gun barrels into flutes.”
This was the second such mushaira held in Dubai.