India/Pakistan Peace Forum

"PAN's Peace Forums have become role models within YPO for changing perceptions and building understanding"

Amin Hashwani (Pakistan)

PAN’s Indo-Pak Forum sponsors historic chapter exchange, bringing 133 Indian YPOers to Pakistan

The Peace Action Network Chapter's Indo-Pak Forum, one of oldest PAN sponsored peace forums, helped catalyze a major breakthrough in relations between India and Pakistan in November 2003 by arranging for 133 Indian YPOer's and their spouses to visit Pakistan.  This marked the first trip ever into Pakistan for 131 of the Indian guests.  

The trip, hosted by the Pakistani YPO Chapter, included many of India 's top business leaders. A highlight of the three day meeting was spending time with President Musharraf of Pakistan at the presidential palace where he first announced his decision to open air travel between the countries.

All the Indian visitors entered into Pakistan by crossing the international border by foot where they received a very warm welcome by their new Pakistani friends.  The trip included visits to Pakistani cities of Lahore , Moenjadaro and Karachi . All were dramatically impacted by that experience, with similar comments being heard from both sides including "they are so much like us - hospitable and warm"; "we even look the same and speak the same language"; and  "they are wrong about Kashmir, but that is something you negotiate, not maintain a state of war for 56 years over".  

All agreed that it was an AMAZING experience!! One of the Indian YPOers who attended wrote a poem that beautifully captures her experience on the trip.