Mumbai, July 02: In an effort towards promoting peace and friendship between the people of the two countries, twenty students from the country would leave for Pakistan today. Addressing a press conference here, Admiral (Retd) Ramdas, chairman of Pakistan-India people forum for peace and democracy, under whose banner the students would be visiting the neighbouring country to participate in a ten-day workshop on cultural exchange, said the idea came up during a get-together of forty youths of the two countries at Singapore last year. With tension between India and Pakistan easing out a bit on a political level, the youths have decided to initiate efforts towards bringing the people of both the countries close to each other, he said.
The workshop, commencing on July 3, is the first of its kind and will focus on reducing the gap between the two countries through exchange of art and culture.


If everything goes well, admiral Ramdas said, Pakistani youths will be invited to visit India next year. Expressing delight over the unique endeavour, the participants hoped, "our effort will help in bridging the gap between the two countries" and said the tour was "a mission to lessen the mistrust existing between the people of the two countries".

Lalita Ramdas, tour co-ordinator, said the youths would return with a rich experience and promote sustainable peace in the sub-continent.

Bureau Report