A couple of years ago I wrote Media Without Borders on the World Bank blog. In it I talked about the insatiable human appetite to communicate with one another, and how modern technology was assisting this. I also wrote about Aman Ki Asha, an initiative lead by media groups across the India and Pakistani borders. I wrote dryly:

And India-Pakistan relations won’t be restored overnight with a few songs and some front-page doves. But what heartens me about Aman Ki Asha in particular is seeing media (refreshingly) taking responsibility, and understanding they have a part to play.

A couple of years on, and regional peace has not broken out – and whilst Nawaz Sharif will be focussing on domestic issues as all new incumbents do, I would argue that there has been some improvement in cross border relations – not necessarily lead by officials.

As a former diplomat, I have often reflected that I make a much better Ambassador for my country as a citizen. The context that you engage with another country is important. Whilst Aman Ki Asha focuses on media and cultural connections, I recently attended the launch of an initiative that promises to do the same for business.

The Dosti Network is an ambitious programme lead by the Pakistani Seed Ventures and Indian Angel Network. Both organisations invest in new business ideas – Seed Ventures now employs 600 people and the Indian Angel Network invests in a new business every 3 weeks. This time their focus is on mentoring businesses that operate across the border with their neighbour. One of the mechanisms for this is a business startup competition – which will see young entrepreneurs from Indian, Pakistan and the diaspora community persuade the investors in the social and economic worth of their plan televised on Pakistani and Indian TV.

What was curious was that the launch was happening a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Chowk at the Palace of Westminster in London. A neutral space, but one might have asked why not launch the initiative in Dubai where many business deals between the two countries currently takes place? Looking around a roomful of British Pakistani and British Indians I could see why. The 1.5 million British Indians and 1 million British Pakistanis are the largest and second-largest minority ethnic groups living in the UK and their peaceful co-existence has been admired. Perhaps because they share an identity as “British Asians”, but also because of a shared past and relationship with colonial Britain. To harness this positive energy is a great starting point. Several of the attendees at the launch pointed toward cross-border business initiatives that already exist – citing women’s groups and Kashmir-based orgnisations that were striving to connect with neighbours for mutual economic betterment. The Dosti network can only stand to add to this.

So whilst we might be asking, can Nawaz Sharif mend Pakistan's ties with India? We should be also seeking ways for the citizens of the two countries to connect in other contexts – whether it is as part of our insatiable human appetite to communicate with one another, or a passion to do business. Eventually the dosti or friendship into the fields of education, development, technology and human rights. All these things contribute to a “Hope for Peace” between the nations. If you have any examples of such initiatives, please feel free to share in the comments below.