New Delhi, April 2 -- "If France and Germany can be part of the European Union, why can't Pakistan and India be part of a South Asian Union?" asked Dr Mubashir Hasan, former finance minister of Pakistan and a founder of the Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy.

The former hawk-turned-dove was talking to journalist Beena Sarwar in Lahore, and when she said it sounded impossible, he replied, "Par hum baat toh kar sakte hai" (But we can at least talk about it).

Years later, in 2021, during a time of renewed tensions between Pakistan and India, she remembered the words of her late mentor who had passed away in January 2020. This idea is what lies behind the foundation of the Southasia Peace Action Network. Writing the abbre...