The right to peace - for everyone

When a two-week ceasefire was announced by the US on April 7, there was a sigh of relief around the world. Granted, it is initially only for two weeks, and there are already signs of cracks, but this was a much-needed respite after a war that seemed to be getting out of control, as wars often do. For many people, including those in Pakistan, the war caused deep anxiety about an uncertain future. There was grief about thousands of innocent lives lost, the worry about how our own lives may be impacted, and the fear of an escalation that may be impossible to control. In the backdrop of this anxiety, peace, fragile as it may be, feels right and needs to be protected. Before we get busy again, let us hold on to that feeling of anxiety for another minute and imagine if we had to live with this anxiety all the time. There are people out there in the world who are just as concerned about the future of their children and the health of their parents as we are, who worry about the integrity of their homes and the joy in their neighbourhoods as we do. They are desperate to sleep without the sounds of bombs falling, drones buzzing and bullets flying. I hope the proximity of this conflict in our own neighbourhood provides us with concern for those who are on the receiving end of the atrocities in Sudan. As we reflect on the last few weeks, I want us to imagine how sweet peace would feel to the communities in Sudan, should they experience it. And why should they not experience it? Why should they be deprived of the joy that should be universal? It is not to say that the continued conflict or the loss of life in other places is any less important – I mention Sudan only to illustrate the point that despite it being the largest humanitarian crisis in the world at the moment, with tens of millions displaced and horrors of massacres visible from satellites, there is barely any mention in our news or attention from those who hold the mic. In the aftermath of the fragile peace, we can also reflect on what we actually care about: just our immediate neighbourhood, our politics, or the rising oil prices? Or maybe, because we have seen it come close to us, we do care about the right to safety, dignity and humanity for everyone. In the midst of bombastic statements and grand threats, there are some who have reminded us to imagine a different world. Pope Leo, an American, has been quite direct about how he sees the world set alight by greed and lust for power. In a world that views power as the only thing that matters, he warns us against the "delusion of omnipotence" and the "idolatry of self and money". Pope Leo is just one of the many voices for peace, humility and human dignity – there are many others as well. In the noise that surrounds us, there are some really worthy signals too. These signals need to be amplified, and we may have an unusual opportunity to do so at this time. At this unique moment in time, when there is a small window to press for peace, and we find ourselves at the centre stage, I hope we are bold in our imagination in creating structures for peace, not just in our immediate neighbourhood, but beyond. Despite our shortcomings, let us aspire to be the incubator for bold ideas – for those who are longing for peace within our midst and for those who live afar. Let us meet this moment through careful work, serious journalism and honest debates. We are not going to get things right, and the chance of failure is significantly greater than the chance of success, but we have not held the attention of the world in this way for a very long time. Let us imagine a kinder and safer world for all, both within our borders and outside.