NEW DELHI: A grandson of Mahatma Gandhi has joined demands by a growing number of Indian activists for resumption of talks with Pakistan, saying the beleaguered country needed ‘neighbourly support’ as well as a self-help strategy to overcome its many challenges, a statement said on Tuesday.

In a petition signed by senior Indian citizens, including former prime minister I.K. Gujral, peace activist Rajmohan Gandhi said: ‘At this time Indians must express total and unqualified support to all Pakistanis striving to preserve normal life in their country.’

'Threats to Pakistanis are not only threats to close neighbours; they are threats moving towards India, and threats that can easily scale the international border.’

The statement said: ‘Self-interest plus the simplest humanity demands that Indians, citizens and the government, do all they can to make the challenges before Pakistanis less arduous. Despite India’s ongoing elections, and notwithstanding Indian complaints against Pakistani governments, agencies and groups, let India and Indians offer every encouragement and support to the people of Pakistan in the difficult times they face.’

Indians could not remain mute witnesses of the serious danger that Pakistan faces and of the brave effort of many Pakistanis to meet that danger, the statement said. 

‘Going to work or school is today a hazard in several parts of Pakistan. Many children remain at home. Trust in institutions of government and in security forces has dropped steeply. Mutual blame often replaces joint action.’

Signatories to the public petition included former foreign secretary Salman Haider, rights activists Teesta Setalvad, Aruna Roy, legal activists Fali Nariman and former Justice Rajinder Sachchar.

‘We extend our solidarity to those Pakistanis who in this crisis are working for reconciliation among Pakistan’s divided groups, thereby making the Pakistani soil less hospitable to extremism and violence.’

‘We express the earnest hope that Pakistan will overcome its internal trust-deficit —whether between parties, ethnic groups or sects, or between the political class and security forces, or even among relatives —and thereby emerge stronger.’

The petition came as a departure from the relentless pressure mounted by the mainstream Indian parties and the government on Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructures they accuse Islamabad of allowing on its territory. 

Even as the statement was circulated, Indian Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor said infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, helped by Pakistani establishment, had risen substantially, with March recording the highest influx as compared to the corresponding month in the last seven years.