At least 117 individuals from India and Pakistan, in a joint open letter, on Wednesday (July 1, 2026) asked Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to re-open bilateral dialogue, resume discussions on J&K, demilitarise and de-escalate for a lasting peace in the region.
The initiative of the joint letter, addressed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, was spearheaded by O.P. Shah, who is chairman of the Centre for Peace and Progress.
The joint letter called upon India and Pakistan to reopen comprehensive bilateral dialogue on all outstanding issues. “Resume discussions on Jammu and Kashmir, including revisiting the framework negotiated between 2004 and 2007. Take steps towards demilitarisation and de-escalation, to create lasting peace in the region. Address legitimate security concerns of both countries,” reads the letter.
It called upon the governments of the two countries “to take meaningful and sustained steps towards restoring peace, normalcy, dialogue and cooperation in South Asia.”
“We believe that sustained engagement and dialogue remain the only viable path to resolving differences and building a stable and prosperous region,” it added.
The letter pressed for restoration of full diplomatic relations, resuming normal visa services, enabling exchanges among families, students, academics, journalists, artists, businesspersons and civil society groups
It also advocated reopening the Attari-Wagah land border for trade and travel, resuming Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Delhi-Lahore bus service, opening of Kargil (Ladakh) – Skardu (Gilgit Baltistan) Route and reopening airspace for commercial airlines to reduce travel time and costs and improve connectivity.
“This appeal is not an endorsement of any political position. It is a call to place the welfare, aspirations and future of nearly two billion people above conflict, confrontation, and division. We believe that peace, dialogue and cooperation offer the surest path towards a stable, prosperous and secure South Asia,” said the letter.
The Mirwaiz, who signed the letter, said, “The people of J&K have suffered enough and deserve peace, closure, justice and a dignified resolution.”
NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq said his party “has been a votary of a dialogue” “People from the RSS and different groups have definitely endorsed our point of view, and I think the dialogue should go forward. But as I said, the onus lies on Pakistan as well,” said Mr. Sadiq.
Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary and Member of Parliament Tarun Chugh termed the letter as “echoing Islamabad’s narrative and undermining India’s national interest”.
“It’s deeply unfortunate that certain political leaders in India continue to advocate Pakistan’s agenda while conveniently ignoring decades of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism that has claimed thousands of innocent Indian lives and the sacrifices of our brave security forces,” said Mr. Chugh.
He said the so-called Gupkar Gang and its ideological allies have repeatedly attempted to create moral equivalence between the victim and the perpetrator, even as Pakistan continues to shelter, finance and export terrorism into India.
“India’s position is crystal clear. Terror and talks cannot go together. There can be no question of normal bilateral dialogue until Pakistan completely dismantles the terrorist infrastructure operating from its soil, ends cross-border terrorism and infiltration, and takes credible, verifiable action against terror networks,” he added.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Chugh said, “India follows a policy of Zero Tolerance towards Terrorism. India’s sovereignty, national security and the safety of its citizens are non-negotiable and cannot be compromised for the sake of misplaced political messaging.”
The letter is signed by prominent politicians, including National Conference’s Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party’s Mehbooba Mufti, Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Congress’ Mani Shankar Aiyar, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Prof. Manoj Jha, ex-chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) A.S. Dulat, CPI (M)’s Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami, human rights advocate Rita Manchanda etc. From Pakistan, the letter is signed by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, ex-diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, diplomat Shamsher Ahmed Khan, artist Beena Sarwar etc.
Published – July 01, 2026 06:16 pm IST
