With India not relenting on resuming composite dialogue with Pakistan anytime soon, Islamabad was looking for a gesture and a message that can’t be construed but positively. Defying hawks and sceptics, Pakistan conferred Sitara-e-Imtiaz, one of the highest civilian honours, to veteran Gandhian and peace activist, the late Nirmala Deshpande, this week.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner Shahid Malik presented the award to Deshpande’s younger sister Kalpana Pranjpe at the Pakistan Day function March 23 in front of the capital’s elite. In a citation read on the occasion, Deshpande was declared as a great peace activist who tirelessly worked for promoting peace between both the neighbours. The message was “aman ki asha” (longing for peace), a Pakistani diplomat said.
rounak