NEW DELHI: Stating that peace between India and Pakistan was increasingly "people-driven," External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh on Monday said there had been a remarkable transformation in the public mood in both countries. This could be witnessed in the outpouring of spontaneous sympathy and sense of solidarity between the peoples in the wake of the recent earthquake.

In a message sent at the launch of a new book "Journey to amity: India and Musharraf's Pakistan" written by K.K. Katyal, former Associate Editor and New Delhi Bureau Chief of The Hindu, the Minister said the natural disaster had, in fact, brought "home to us in a most dramatic fashion how lines drawn upon the map mean so little when tragedy strikes.'' He stressed the need to build on this "spirit of humanity and natural affinity" which bound the people of the two countries.

Describing Mr. Katyal as a "close observer of the ups and downs in the saga of India-Pakistan relations over recent decades," Mr. Singh said his book covered the four phases of India's relations with Pakistan since President Pervez Musharraf took power in Islamabad six years ago.

Releasing the book published by Har-Anand Publications, former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral said Mr. Katyal had been a crusader for peace between India and Pakistan. The creation of a people's group, SAFMA, by Mr. Katyal and his associates had helped to bring the journalists of the two countries together like never before. Stating that the book was a "valuable document," he said the first chapter itself encapsulated the work of various organisations and people in bringing peace between the two neighbours.

On the view that the recent earthquake had brought the people of the two countries even closer, Mr. Gujral mentioned how following the appeal of Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir, manufacturers of drugs in Delhi promised him they would send truckloads of medicine to Pakistan. "But for that to happen the diplomats of the two sides must cooperate," he said with a smile in the direction of Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan.

Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar said the "very informative" book by Mr. Katyal had information people were not aware of. Hoping that it would contribute to peace, he said the people-to-people contact had given a lot of hope. Pointing out how compared to just 15 persons some years ago, the Independence Day-eve candlelight function at the Wagah border this year drew over half a million people — who were chanting friendship slogans — Mr. Nayar said the relationship between the two countries had now reached a road from where it could only move forward.

Mr. Katyal said his book was in the nature of an extended news report covering six years and the sequential description of the developments threw up significant political points, which automatically became subjects of analysis. Citing a case in point, he said the idea of making the borders irrelevant was a common point in the statements of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gen. Musharraf. "It could well be developed in a workable, viable proposition or a blueprint for a solution."

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