Indian poets highlight need for peace at Karachi conference

Amid tension between India and Pakistan, poets from India today highlighted the need to spread love and peace between people of the two neighbours at a world Urdu conference.
Urdu poets from around the world have gathered here for the Seventh International (Aalmi) Urdu conference -- a major annual cultural event -- that began today at the Karachi Arts Council.
Poets from India spoke about love and peace between India and Pakistan at the event, despite the ongoing tension and clashes along the Line of Control.
They also took digs at political leaderships in the two countries and stressed that people in both the nations wanted to live in peace and harmony and have respect for each other.

Poets Khushbir Singh Shaad from Jalandhar, Ranjeet Chauhan from Delhi, Ameer Imam from Moradabad and Abhishek Shukla from Lucknow highlighted the importance of better Indo-Pak ties.
"Tensions between the two countries will reduce if there are meaningful dialogues and exchange of visits at all levels," Shaad said.

In the poem he recited, Shaad touched the importance of peace and how meaningful it could be for both the countries.
Shukla appreciated the conference and said the future of Urdu, which was an integral part of the sub-continent culture and history, appeared to be safe.
"It is pleasing to see the new generation taking more interest in Urdu literature and being keen to learn about the history of Urdu." Shukla also recited a few poems at the event.

Muhammad Ahmed Shah, the secretary of the Arts Council which is organising the conference, said that an international mushaira, Urdu theatre, eastern music, eastern dances and paintings and Urdu-English bilingual sessions would be part of the conference.
He said literary figures, poets, scholars, intellectuals from India, Iran, Bangladesh, the United States, Canada, Germany, Turkey, Russia and Egypt are taking part in the conference.