LAHORE — One hundred seventeen individuals from India and Pakistan signed a letter on July 3, 2026, urging Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif to restart diplomatic talks between their countries. The letter proposed using the negotiation framework from the 2004–2007 period as a model for renewed engagement.

The signatories of the letter included 61 individuals from India and 56 from Pakistan. OP Shah, the founder-chairman of the Centre for Peace and Progress, coordinated the appeal. Among the prominent signatories were Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, AS Dulat, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Manoj Jha, and Apoorvanand from India.

Pakistani signatories included Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Beena Sarwar, and Salima Hashmi. The letter called for specific measures to improve relations, including the restoration of high commissioners between India and Pakistan. Additionally, it requested the reopening of the Atari-Wagah border crossing and the lifting of restrictions on commercial airspace.

The letter also advocated for an easing of visa regulations between the two nations. These calls for renewed diplomacy followed a conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025. Track-2 diplomatic efforts had previously occurred in Colombo. As of July 3, 2026, the governments of India and Pakistan had not issued an official response to the letter.

Why It Matters

This initiative represents an attempt by civil society figures from both India and Pakistan to foster diplomatic engagement between their governments. The suggested reopening of the Atari-Wagah border crossing, easing of visa regulations, and the restoration of high commissioners would directly impact travel, commerce, and diplomatic presence. The proposal to use the 2004–2007 negotiation framework suggests a preference for established diplomatic approaches.