Gurmehar Kaur: “Only Honest Dialogue Between India and Pakistan Can Ensure Peace”
Gurmehar Kaur, who gained national attention in 2017 as a Delhi University student featured in Time magazine’s “Next Generation Leaders,” has once again emphasized the need for peaceful dialogue between India and Pakistan. The daughter of Capt. Mandeep Singh, who was martyred in August 1999, Gurmehar has long been a staunch advocate for peace in the subcontinent.
In a conversation with The Tribune, she reflected on recent tensions and underscored the toll they take, especially on youth and families in Punjab. “The younger generation from Punjab has seen a lot in the past 10 days. Our region deserves much better. This is no age for violence, war or terrorism,” she said. “Only mutual cooperation can drive South Asia ahead. A peaceful subcontinent is the greatest gift we can give our families, our soldiers and ourselves.”
Gurmehar stirred controversy in 2017 after appearing in a video holding placards with messages like: “Pakistan did not kill my dad. War killed him.” Despite the backlash, she continues to champion the cause of peace, echoing the sentiments of former Army chief Gen. MM Naravane, who called war a serious and costly last resort. “War should never be glorified,” she said. “Ceasefires are welcome, but they must lead to lasting commitments, not just pauses.”
Deeply moved by the resilience of families of soldiers, Gurmehar spoke about the importance of supporting them in difficult times. “I’ve been reading posts from families of defence personnel. Our families are incredibly strong—I’ve seen that strength in my own mother. As citizens, we owe it to them to care for their well-being.”
Recently, she lent her voice to support Himanshi Narwal, the wife of Navy officer Lt. Vinay Narwal, who was killed in Pahalgam. After Himanshi was trolled for stating that she didn’t want people to target Muslims over her husband’s death, Gurmehar wrote an emotional open letter. “I am your age. Like you, I dream of love, of a life built hand-in-hand with someone I cherish. To see that dream stolen from you… broke something inside me,” she wrote. “My mother was your age when she lost my father in the Valley. I know this kind of loss. It never leaves you.”
Condemning the politicization of grief, she said, “Your tragedy was ghoulishly turned into content… You, in your darkest moments, have protected what is most sacred about India—its soul.”
In a recent tweet, Gurmehar didn’t shy away from criticizing the political climate: “Hate is the most anti-national force that we face. The worst thing the BJP under Modi did was nurture a mob that can only be satisfied with blood, killings and hate. For 10 years, this mob has been empowered.”
Proud of her late father’s role in India’s air defence unit—critical in neutralizing drone and missile attacks from Pakistan—Gurmehar continues to honor his legacy. Now an author, she is currently working on a book exploring post-partition Punjab and how its people rebuilt their lives after the trauma of division.
Her message remains clear and unwavering: lasting peace in South Asia can only come through honest dialogue, empathy, and a commitment to rejecting hate.
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