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Candlelight vigil at Wagah

Wagah: At the stroke of midnight, when the world slept, the tiny flames of about a hundred candles lit this joint border check post and the silence of the night was shattered by chants of `Yeh desh vi hamara hai, wo desh vi hamara hai' (This country is ours, that country is also ours).

As the candlelights fluttered in cool night breeze, members of the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch moved towards the Radcliffe Line chanting `Indo Pakistan unity Zindabad'. A couple of yards from the zero line these peaceniks halted and embraced each other, exhibiting the strong bonds of friendship that bind the common people of India and Pakistan.

The 21-member delegation from Pakistan had crossed over into India through this check post yesterday morning to join members of the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch to take part in the 11th candlelight vigil at midnight.

It was for the first time that a Pakistani delegation took part in the midnight vigil for Indo-Pak peace and friendship.

Greeting each other on the occasion of the Independence Day of Pakistan (Aug 14 ) and India, the participants of both the countries passed a resolution calling upon both the countries to continue with the ongoing peace process. The resolution strongly condemned terrorism and all forms of violence.

Renowned journalist and founder of the Dosti Manch, Mr Kuldip Nayar while addressing the participants said, "We must continue with the peace process, as the common man in both the countries want peace and harmony." Mr Nayar despite criticism from certain quarters for his views advocating stronger Indo-Pak ties, said, "Violence would not deter us." The `Dosti' exponents kept humming `Hum Ek Hai' (We are one), but not a single word was uttered in memory of those who died in the serial bomb blasts at Mumbai last month. UNI

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