Tension at Indo-Pak border disappointing, says peace-loving Malala

Indian Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai on Friday agreed to work jointly to build “strong relations” between their countries, amid growing tensions along the border.

“We will work together and try to build strong relations between India and Pakistan,” she said, adding that it was “really disappointing” that India and Pakistan were engaged in confrontation.

“We want to have good relations...I really believe in peace,” the 17-year-old told reporters after being chosen for the coveted prize along with Satyarthi. She said it was important to have progress and development instead of fighting.

Malala said she and Satyarthi would appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join them (in Oslo) for the award ceremony in December. She also made a “humble request” to Sharif and Modi to ensure peace.

Satyarthi, who gave up his job as an electrical engineer to run an NGO in India for rescuing children from forced labour and trafficking, and 17-year-old Malala, who survived a near-fatal Taliban attack two years ago with determination advocating education for girls, were named by the Nobel Peace Prize committee for the prestigious global award this year.

Malala said she was “honoured” to be the first Pakistani and the youngest person to be given the award and dedicated the award to the “voiceless”. “This award is for all those children who are voiceless, whose voices need to be heard,” she said.