By Anil Merani: Ashi Singh has waded into dangerous water with her tweet which calls for peace with the enemy at the time of war
Ashi Singh’s tweet highlights a deep moral conflict as she grapples with the tragic loss of innocent lives amidst the recent tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists (The Hindu). Her statement, “borders exist only on maps, not in the eyes of God,” reflects a universal perspective on the value of human life, transcending nationalistic sentiments during this time of heightened conflict.
Understanding the context of India-Pakistan relations is essential. The two nations have a history of territorial disputes over Kashmir, with escalations occurring after India rejected Pakistan’s call for talks in July 2021, citing terrorism as a barrier to peace (Wikipedia). In such conflicts, collateral damage is a known reality; India’s military actions, including reported missile strikes on Pakistan-administered Kashmir, might lead to civilian casualties, a fact that Ashi appears to lament .
Some users on X, like @RasodaQueen, have accused Ashi of hypocrisy for not condemning the Pahalgam attack by Pakistani terrorists while speaking out against India’s military response. This reflects a broader sentiment that her call for peace may be interpreted as sympathy towards Pakistan, intensifying tension in the social media discourse.
The phrase “proud that my country stands for the innocent lives lost” can be viewed as India’s official stance against terrorism. Still, her concern for “innocent lives we’ll take” suggests unease with India’s military actions, potentially fueling the perception that she is “batting for Pakistan.”
In a later reply to @Jigy_2022, Ashi mentioned “10 Indians” caught in the conflict, indicating that she is also mourning the loss of Indian lives and countering the narrative that she advocates solely for Pakistan’s perspective.
Moreover, her tweet resonates with the “Aman ki Asha” peace movement, an initiative by Jang (Pakistan) and Times of India to foster peace between India and Pakistan. While this movement has faced criticism for being naive in the face of ongoing terrorism, it provides crucial context for understanding Ashi’s viewpoint.
While I appreciate Ashi’s point of view, sometimes timing matters. In war, you need to stand with the flag. India did not start this round of hostility; we only responded after 26 innocent lives were snuffed out, and that in a dehumanising way.
I also feel sad for the loss of any innocent lives if it has happened, but that is the nature of the beast of war, and again, we are only defending ourselves. Pakistan should be held accountable for sponsoring terror, and if any innocent lives are lost, it is on them.