Yesterday (February 27) Pakistan claimed it shot down two Indian Air Force planes, with a surviving pilot reportedly being arrested.
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Armed Forces, Major General Asfi Ghafoor, made the announcement on Twitter, stating the action was warranted because the jets were flying inside Pakistan’s airspace.
It has escalated the Kashmir conflict, which is primarily between India and Pakistan, and has taken place since the partition of India in 1947.
In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019
The countries have fought three wars over Kashmir, with both claiming the region is theirs while only controlling parts of it.
Recently an online campaign has called for peace between the two nations, with the hashtag ‘ProfileForPeace’ trending on Twitter.
Thousands of Indians and Pakistanis have joined the campaign, sharing photos of themselves holding up a note which says where they are from, and that they don’t hate each other.
The ‘ProfileForPeace’ hashtag was actually introduced by Mumbai-based ad-filmmaker Ram Subramanian in 2016, but it is trending again in light of recent events.
He originally shared a photo of himself holding up a note which read:
Dear leaders,
Do not let the actions of few violent men write the future of many people, like me, who want peace.
#KillTerroristsNotTalks #ProfileForPeace
He then invited others to join in, writing a similar message on paper, taking a selfie with it and uploading to social media, maybe also making it your profile picture.
Profile for peace is trending again. pic.twitter.com/06A7Yrf9xr
— Ram Subramanian (@VORdotcom) February 28, 2019
Earlier today Shafi Khan Masood joined in, sharing a photo of himself on Twitter with the text ‘I am Pakistani, I don’t hate India, I hate war, I am not alone’.
#Profileforpeace pic.twitter.com/ty4pDKFeeE
— Shafi Khan Masood Qabailistani (@ShafiKh10718477) February 28, 2019
While Nitin didn’t share a photo, he did post a similar message:
I am an Indian.
I dont hate pakistan.
I dont want war.
I am not alone.
There are many people like me.I understand that incompetent leaders of both countries are responsible for this mess.
I am an Indian.
I dont hate pakistan.
I dont want war.
I am not alone.
There are many people like me.I understand that incompotent leaders of both countries are responsible for this mess. #ProfileForPeace
— Nitin (@CtrlShiftF5) February 27, 2019
Another Twitter user shared a tweet which read:
We both are peaceful nation only people who will not less peacefully they are politicians so say no to war.
We both are peaceful nation only people who will not less peacefully they are politicians so #SayNotToWar #Abhinandhan #profileforpeace pic.twitter.com/jBcagtmvC0
— idesimoji (@idesimoji) February 28, 2019
Shahzad Shafi shared the story of a moment of friendship they witnessed tweeting:
I’m Witness of one the historical moment.
When the owner of Dunkin’ Donuts my dearest friend Iqbal Latif in Pakistan, offered free food to all Indians visiting the country.
I'm Witness of one the historical moment 😊
When the owner of Dunkin' Donuts my dearest friend Iqbal Latif in #Pakistan, offered free food to all #Indians visiting the country#SayNoToWarhttps://t.co/9rAhIx01mb— Shahzad Shafi (@shahzadShafi007) February 27, 2019
The campaign is inspiring stuff.
If you have a story you want to tell, share it with UNILAD via [email protected].