"It is quite clear that only dialogue is the way forward," reads a joint letter addressed to both Prime Ministers on behalf of the initiative, which has been backed by as many as 117 individuals, including politicians, diplomats, officials, scholars and activists from India and Pakistan. It was initiated by O.P. Shah, chairman of the Centre for Peace and Progress.

The letter calls for the revival of the backchannel framework that was reportedly negotiated between 2004 and 2007, alongside measures aimed at demilitarisation, de-escalation, and addressing the legitimate security concerns of both countries. According to the signatories, renewed engagement is essential to ensure long-term peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

In order to build people-to-people relations "beyond formal discussions", a raft of other confidence-building measures has been proposed. These include resuming full diplomatic relations, allowing easy visas and travel through regular channels, opening the Attari-Wagah border for trade and travel, restarting bus services (Delhi-Lahore and Srinagar-Muzaffarabad), opening the Kargil-Skardu route and enabling commercial flights to operate between the two countries by using each other's airspace.

The group that initiated this proposal clarified that "we have not put this forward to endorse any political agenda…but rather in the interests of the nearly two billion people inhabiting the region."

"It is the best path to get out of the deep mire of decades of conflict and distrust", the signatories felt. Among those who supported this joint initiative from the Indian side were Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Manoj Jha, former RAW chief A.S. Dulat, CPI(M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami and human rights advocate Rita Manchanda.

From Pakistan, they included former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, ex-diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, diplomat Shamsher Ahmed Khan and Beena Sarwar. Welcoming the initiative, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told The Indian Express that "the people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered immensely for decades and deserve peace and justice". He said the initiative by the Indians and Pakistanis was a welcome step, "especially at this time of severe political impasse."

NC leader Tanvir Sadiq said: "We always support any attempt aimed at initiating dialogue and promoting peace.

We also expect Pakistan to play a constructive role." The initiative has been slammed by the BJP. "These individuals, while citing the importance of dialogue and reducing tensions, conveniently ignore decades of terrorism originating from across the border. India's stance is clear: zero tolerance for terrorism.

Without credible, verifiable and sustained action from Pakistan to dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, no substantive dialogue is possible," said BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been on hold, with diplomatic, trade, cultural and transport ties suspended over several years amid strained ties.