Last week’s terrorist attack on a convoy of vehicles on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Pulwama, which killed 40 personnel of India’s Central Reserve Police Force, has prompted UAE-based expats from India and Pakistan to call for peace.

As tensions peak between their home countries, expats from across the border said violence in any form, by anyone, anywhere is condemnable.

Proud citizens of their respective countries, they said nothing mattered more than being humane and living in dignity.

According to them, their home countries would do well to provide a greater focus on development, infrastructure, education, employment, health and law and order as economic, social, physical and emotional well-being would leave no room for negativity.

As one expat said, “There are many lessons we can learn from the UAE as it marks the Year of Tolerance. We are the same Indians and Pakistanis who live and work here in perfect harmony with each other and among those from 200 nationalities. There are many cross-border couples too who have mutual love and respect for each other and their families. At the end of the day, we are all human beings with the same basic needs and feelings. And each one of us deserves a decent chance at peace,”

SOURCE : GULFNEWS