Pakistanis win Indian hearts with their warmth
By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, Karachi, Mar 14 (IANS) :
A long chat about India-Pakistan ties and Aishwarya Rai at a restaurant, a free motorcycle ride, two very helpful computer operators and a thrilling one-dayer!
Could my first four days - as the Indian team began its Pakistan tour -have been more eventful?
One thing that was common in Lahore and Karachi was the warmth with which the Pakistanis welcomed the Indians and accommodated all their requests with a smile.
The 50-odd Indian journalists who are here to cover the historic one-day and Test series have the same opinion about the Pakistanis: they are very helpful and cooperative.
Although it’s still early in the 39-day tour, during which India and Pakistan are playing five one-day internationals and three Tests, it can be said with surety that the hosts will continue to be gracious in Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Multan where the entourage, comprising the team and media, will travel.
The tour started in Lahore Wednesday with people welcoming Sourav Ganguly’s team and the accompanying mediapersons with open arms.
They could not hide their excitement - and expectations - at the prospect of watching some of the world’s best batsmen from India in action in Pakistan after 14 years.
The general opinion here is that people of both countries want peace and prosperity, and not war or hatred in the region. They blame politicians on both sides of the border for creating a rift and animosity between the people of India and Pakistan.
I had a nice experience during my first day in Lahore Wednesday when I had dinner at Salt 'N Pepper, a restaurant that reminded me of the Indian chains Nirula’s and Wimpy’s.
I had heard about Salt 'N Pepper when I last visited Pakistan - it was also my first trip - to cover the 1996 World Cup, but did not get time to visit this restaurant that celebrated its 20th anniversary this January.
I had a very tasty meal and had a long chat over various issues with Salt 'N Pepper manager Irfan-ullah, a big Aiwarya Rai fan, over a cup of tea.
While taking a walk at the famous Liberty area, I got into a conversation with Aqeel Ahmed Zia who owns a telephone booth-cum-ice cream parlour. He forced me to take a motorcycle ride in the area and then offered me a soft drink - both forced but full of affection.
The next day, I got a lift in a police van as I was returning to my hotel from the Gaddafi Stadium after India’s series-opening warm-up match.
I had barely mentioned that I was from India when a policeman sitting in the vehicle embraced me with genuine warmth. “Aap Indian ho, dil khush ho gaya (You are an Indian, I am very happy),” he said with a big smile.
On my way to Karachi for the first one-dayer, I had to file reports from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. But since the Internet connection at the airport was agonisingly slow, communications in-charge Khawar Abbas turned out to be a big help.
The communications man at Karachi’s National Stadium, Khalid Rauf, was also helpful when I had problems with the Internet connection and he went out of the way to make me comfortable.
People in Karachi recalled their roots in India - which are mostly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from where they migrated to the Pakistani port city at the time of India’s partition in 1947.
The movement of these people, who are called Mohajirs or the migrated, to Pakistan led to a long-standing conflict between them and the original residents of the Sindh region.
But people now say there is lasting peace. “There is no problem now, no
fighting between the two people,” said taxi driver Raja Murtaza, who lives in Karachi’s Maleer area, the hub of Muhajirs.
And then of course, the week culminated in the best possible way for an Indian: with a thrilling five-run victory in the first one-dayer in Karachi Saturday.
:Pagri: