What Samjhauta have we reached?

Samjhauta is such a lovely term when it is used in the right sense. “Samjhauta" in Hindi means a common understanding- a compromise or like India- Pakistan frames it “A friendship built on healing old wounds."

How far is this true? Today every newspaper carries the news of the blasts in Samjhauta express in which nearly 68 people were killed. What kind of Samjhauta is this? I thought a bond of friendship surpassed even those of mass killings. Then, why do these attacks on innocent lives still take place? The Express which was meant to cement the wounds of two nations (originally one) is only tearing them apart.

Suspicion, revenge, battles are not new words to two countries which has been on war with each other. They not only share a border but a history. But the understanding between both is something which is called for in this time of globalization. What is sad is the way public transport is misused for private interests of a select few to get their message home.

Even cartoonists mock at the friendship between India and Pakistan. A sketch showed the Friends Express going at high speed. The next shot is that of the blasts and the following frame shows the FRIENDS- THE R= FIENDS.

Is this what both the countries really worked for? Is this our presentation of a reunion to the world...? It only spells disaster and I think we as sensible countries can do better than that. Why give the outside worlds a chance to pick on our personal affairs. I think we deserve much more than just a comic strip. We need to show the world that if Samjhauta is there, can peace be far behind?