BenjaminWoodard at 01:38, 20 April 2026

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{{Short description|India-Pakistan friendship initiative}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Aaghaz-e-Dosti
| logo =
| founded = 2012
| founder = Ravi Nitesh
| type = An Indo-Pak Friendship Initiative
| headquarters = [[New Delhi]], India
| location = India
| origins =
| key_people = Founder – Ravi Nitesh & Co-Founder – Devika Mittal
| region_served =
| focus =
| method =
| revenue =
| endowment =
| num_volunteers =
| num_employees =
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| owner =
| website = {{website defunct|https://missionbhartiyam.com/aaghaz-e-dosti/}}
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Aaghaz-e-Dosti''' (English: "Beginning of Friendship") is an India–Pakistan organization that aims to promote engagement and understanding between people of the two countries. It was started in 2012 by the Indian organization ''Mission Bhartiyam'' and its founder, Ravi Nitesh. The initiative aims to facilitate engagement and understanding between the people of both countries by providing platforms for people to learn about conditions and perspectives across the border. The organization has publicly called for the reopening of diplomatic channels between Pakistan and India and has expressed support for adherence to ceasefire movements.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti has organized initiatives intended to facilitate interactions between the people of India and Pakistan. Its activities include creating opportunities for cross-border interaction and promoting pen-pal exchanges among young people in both countries. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/life-and-style/letters-across-divide-128|title=Letters across the divide|first=Aarti|last=Bhanushali|date=October 24, 2016|website=The Asian Age}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twocircles.net/2015may22/1432290622.html|title=Aaghaz-e-Dosti facilitates 30 people to make friends beyond the border – TwoCircles.net|date=22 May 2015}}</ref>

A delegation from various parts of India arrived in [[Attari]] at the conclusion of the Delhi–Attari road trip, "Aman Dosti Yatra 2018," which was organized with the stated objective of encouraging Indian and Pakistani dialogue. <ref>{{Cite news |date=17 August 2018 |title='Aman Dosti Yatra' reaches Attari, backs Indo-Pak peace | Chandigarh News – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/aman-dosti-yatra-reaches-attari-backs-indo-pak-peace/articleshow/65431562.cms |website=The Times of India}}</ref> The 40-member group was flagged off in Delhi by journalist and former diplomat [[Kuldip Nayar]] and proceeded to the [[Wagah border]] under the banner of Aaghaz-e-Dosti. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Nepali |date=2024-08-13 |title=Peacemongers at India-Pakistan border |url=https://nepalitimes.com/opinion/peacemongers-at-india-pakistan-border |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=nepalitimes.com}}</ref>

Aaghaz-e-Dosti launched its 7th Indo-Pak peace calendar on 20 January 2019. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/aaghaz-e-dosti-to-launch-indo-pak-peace-calendar-tomorrow|title='Aaghaz-e-Dosti' to launch 7th Indo-Pak peace calendar on January 20|website=National Herald|date=19 January 2019}}</ref>

==History==
Aaghaz-e-Dosti was established in 2012 by people from India and Pakistan, led by Ravi Nitesh. In March 2016, Aaghaz-e-Dosti became a joint initiative of India-based Mission Bhartiyam and Pakistan-based The Catalyst of Peace. In May 2017, Hum Sab Aik Hain <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allevents.in/lahore/indopak-chiraagheaman-lit-the-lamp-of-peace/454061571621230|title=IndoPak ChiraagheAman, Lit the Lamp of Peace|website=allevents.in|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411104619/https://allevents.in/lahore/indopak-chiraagheaman-lit-the-lamp-of-peace/454061571621230|url-status=dead}}</ref> also joined as a collaborator from [[Pakistan]].

==Goals==
According to the organization, its goals include addressing mutual perceptions between communities of [[India–Pakistan relations|India and Pakistan]]. It focuses on people-to-people communication and provides a platform for people of both countries where participants can communicate ideas and discuss mutual issues. Through this initiative, the Aaghaz-e-Dosti team operates programs involving the exchange of letters, greeting cards, and cultural and open mic nights via video conferencing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/28/pak-india-peace-calendar-launched-with-inspiring-artwork/|title=Pak-India peace calendar launched with inspiring artwork | Pakistan Today|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk|date=28 January 2018 }}</ref> It has a defined working structure consisting of the founder, conveners, the core committee, and team members—city coordinators and task-based coordinators. Initiatives of Aaghaz-e-Dosti are Aman Chaupal,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cydapakistan.org/projects/aaghaz-e-dosti/aman-chaupal/|title = Aman Chaupal - CYDA Pakistan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-peaceniks-hold-Aman-Chaupal-in-Pakistan/articleshow/45092282.cms|title=Indian peaceniks hold 'Aman Chaupal' in Pakistan | India News – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=10 November 2014}}</ref> greeting card exchange between schools,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mieken.info/send-greeting-cards-to-india/send-greeting-cards-to-india-greeting-card-exchange-between-schools-aaghaz-e-dosti-printable/|title=send greeting cards to india greeting card exchange between schools aaghaz e dosti printable – Mieken.info|first=Jacobo|last=Alire}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Indo-Pak Classroom Connect,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sabrangindia.in/breaking-barriers/first-indo-pak-classroom-connect-between-mumbai-and-karachi|title=First Indo-Pak Classroom Connect between Mumbai and Karachi|date=9 December 2015|website=SabrangIndia}}</ref> Indo-Pak Peace Calendar,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/wion+news-epaper-wionnew/indo+pak+peace+calendar+released-newsid-106771100|title=Indo-Pak peace calendar released – Wion News|website=Dailyhunt}}</ref> Indo-Pak Peace Workshop,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insightonconflict.org/conflicts/pakistan/peacebuilding-organisations/aaghaz-e-dosti/|title=Aaghaz-e-Dosti (an indopak friendship initiative)|website=Peace Insight}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pcdnetwork.org/blogs/aaghaz-e-dosti-conducts-indo-pak-peace-building-workshop-with-centre-for-social-equity-and-inclusioncsei-in-delhi/|title=Aaghaz-e-Dosti conducts Indo-Pak Peace Building Workshop with Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion(CSEI) in Delhi|website=PCDN|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411095942/https://pcdnetwork.org/blogs/aaghaz-e-dosti-conducts-indo-pak-peace-building-workshop-with-centre-for-social-equity-and-inclusioncsei-in-delhi/|url-status=dead}}</ref> etc.

==Awards==
* Social Media for Empowerment Award 2016 by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://defindia.org/aaghaz-e-dosti-is-forging-friendship-across-border/|title=Aaghaz-e-Dosti is forging friendship across border|date=16 March 2016}}</ref>
* Felicitated as Laureate of Public Peace Prize 2017 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publicpeaceprize.org/aaghaz-e-dosti/|title=Aaghaz-e-Dosti|date=11 January 2017}}</ref>
* Felicitated at the Global Peace Initiative 2015 hosted by Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (Mumbai, India) <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://paperplane.pk/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi|title=Contact Support|website=paperplane.pk}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:India–Pakistan relations]]
[[Category:Peace movement in India]]
[[Category:2012 establishments in India]]

Aaghaz-e-Dosti - Revision history

BenjaminWoodard at 01:38, 20 April 2026