WORLD PEACE STAYS ELUSIVE AMID RISING CONFLICTS

Years ago, we accidentally bumped into each other in Anantnag. He narrated his tragic story insisting he was being harassed. He contacted senior district officials but to no avail.

- SHASHI SHEKHAR

Sheer helplessness drove him to tears. Terrorists in military outfits, military men in long beards would keep knocking at his doors at will. He lamented the misfortune that befell him. He kept popping up in my mind the other day (21 September) as it was ‘World Peace Day’.

The UN designated World Peace Day in 1981, hoping the world will observe ceasefires and cessation of terror activities. But it didn’t happen.

Without going into history, if we focus on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, the former is running in its fourth year while the latter is poised to enter the third. Both nations, members of the UN, have ignored all the concerns of the world body.

One can hardly expect anything from terrorists but how should one respond when nations bound by UN conventions themselves promote terrorism?

The Pahalgam attack is a prime example. In retaliation, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, destroying many terror camps in Pakistan. India’s DGMO told Pakistan that its operation was over. We can stop here itself. But Pakistan retaliated. The world spent some anxious days fearing it wouldn’t spiral into a nuclear war.