Pakistan NCB: Feminist Call for Peace Between India and Pakistan
Lahore, Pakistan
World March of Women NCB-Pakistan, calls for an immediate end to the war between India and Pakistan. War and militarization, driven by nationalism and patriarchy, have long inflicted immeasurable harm on the people of our countries-especially women, children, and marginalized communities. These conflicts rob us of our right to safety, education, health, and dignity.
We strongly condemn the missile strikes launched by India across nine locations in Pakistan, killing and injuring dozens of civilians. We denounce the loss of innocent lives in this deadly and dangerous escalation in hostilities and call upon both the nuclear armed states to exercise restraint and immediately stop any actions that could harm ordinary people on both sides.
Feminism teaches us that true strength lies in dialogue, compassion, and justice – not in violence. Decades of animosity have yielded nothing but grief, loss, and generational trauma. Women on both sides of the border have borne the brunt of this hostility, their stories often silenced or politicized. We reject the use of militarism as a tool of power and call instead for investment in peace, education, healthcare, and climate justice – areas that truly secure our future.
Despite political divides and national boundaries, we feel the lived experiences of women across the subcontinent are deeply interconnected – marked by patriarchal violence, systemic discrimination, economic marginalization, social inequalities and rising religious nationalism that threatens our autonomy and freedom.
Women in both nations continue to lead powerful grassroots movements – fighting for the right to education, reproductive health, labor rights, safety from gender-based violence, and freedom of expression. From the streets of Lahore to the campuses of Delhi, women are resisting oppression in all its forms.
We reject the use of nationalism to pit our struggles against each other. Feminism does not stop at borders. True liberation requires collective resistance and mutual support. We call upon all feminist groups, activists, and allies to amplify each other’s voices, share resources, and build transnational solidarity.
The governments of India and Pakistan must behave responsibly. Any war between these two nuclear-armed nations would be disastrous not just for the people of those countries but for the region and for global peace.
Therefore, we urge both the governments to de-escalate tensions, halt military aggression, and prioritize diplomacy and people-to-people engagement. We demand inclusive peacebuilding processes that center the voices of women, youth, and the marginalized – those most affected and least heard.
We affirm there is no feminist future in war
In solidarity,
Sisters from WMW NCB Pakistan,
For contact: Bushra Khaliq, NCB Coordinator, Former member of WMW International Council
Cell: 0092 321 9402316
Email: bushra.khaliq1@gmail.com