Indian Scholarships for Outstanding Pakistani Students

Bravo! Perhaps the first original idea i have come across here on many a new moons...

Yes indeed this is a great idea.

I agree... If Indians are willing to accommodate, Pakistani students should go there.

In the past Pakistan has invested more on primary and secondary education and neglected the higher education. This will be a good short-term measure until Pakistan develops some more institutions for higher learning.

#3 continue...

Though I would strongly recommend a quota for Sindhi and Baloch students...

scholarship idea is noble but why student exchange on scholarship only? I would say go further and open up university admissions to any Pakistani student who wants to come, pay fees and study. and Pakistan should do the same. Follow the same tests and rules in admissions as for lcoal students. There are already many foreign students in India..even in small places like Amritsar`s University we had few foreign students and there are many more in New Delhi colleges and univeristies. An American student at JNU just won students elections and became gen sec or something.

India already has students from nepal, bangladesh, palestine coming to study for decades... so it can be also be offered to pakis...

But How long before one of our ``guest students`` from pakistan would blow up something?... I mean - the idea is good no doubt, but the downside also has to be considered... with jihad running strong in pakiland - even good ideas would be hard to implement....

The stupidest idea in the world!! India should NEVER allow potential terrorists in..

I mean - some of 9/11 guys were ``students`` too...

I don`t think India can afford to do this at this scale (1000), especially if we are talking about the top schools, because of the opportunity cost to Indian students who are fighting for the few available seats.

Great Idea!

I would personally love to go to India and get a Masters in Indian Classical Music.....

That’s a wonderful idea. It can be extended to cultural exchange programs as well, particularly music education. Most classically trained artists have either left Pakistan or are leaving. Such exchanges between India and Pakistan will be very valuable in preserving our musical heritage, and musicians generally make much better ambassadors of peace than engineers or doctors.

Another step in the right direction will be to setup short duration exchange program (like Junior Year Abroad) with India/Pakistan, instead of a 4-year degree scholarship. Two semesters in neighboring country will also go a long way in mending fences.

Good suggestions, Mr. Daudpota.

I would strongly oppose any scholarship for music. we dont need Bhand mirasi we need kids to get eduication.

We are happy with Indian musicians and singers...

Couple of paki terrorist arrested in mysore last month actually came in using the new relaxed visa regime...

Also - pakis for sure will reciprocate with ``scholarships`` for ``islamic studies``.... and I am sure a bunch of indian muslims will take the offer... and come back as trained and ready to go terrorists... so this is going to be a double-whammy for india.... pakis would be laughing their a## off if this ever comes to be implemented...

Here`s another education angle

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http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/may/23sheela.htm
PoK students want seats in IIM/IITs!

Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi | May 23, 2006 20:08 IST

Students of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have demanded reservation for them in India`s elite educational institutions.

``We want quotas in the Indian Institute of Management, the Indian Institute of Technology and law colleges of India. India should not ignore us,`` said Shafquat Ali Inqlabi, a resident of Gilgit, told rediff.com.

Inqlabi and other 18 others are visiting India to participate in a conference organised by the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management to discuss `Alternative Futures` for Jammu and Kashmir on May 19-20.

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Srinagar: Negligence yet again

Inqlabi says, ``Indian maps always show Gilgit and Baltistan as part of India. The Constitution of India mentions that we are part of India. In your eyes, we are Indians and Pakistan has `occupied` Indian territory. Then, why should we not get admissions in the IIMs and the IITs?`` he says, adding, ``I am an engineer, but now, I want to study law in the best of Indian law colleges. Help me get admission.``

One of the demands made in a resolution unanimously passed by the conference -- which had the tacit support of Indian government -- says, `The Government of India should provide openings in higher, professional and technical educational institutions to deserving students from Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, who are denied necessary facilities for such education.`


The Karakoram University is the only institution for higher studies in Gilgit-Baltistan. The members of the delegation claimed that it does not have proper facilities.

Inqlabi, a political activist, says, ``India should either accept us as Indians or give up claim on the territory.``

In view of the All Party Hurriyat Conference`s rejecting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s invitation to attend the second roundtable conference on Kashmir, the conference presented the ground realities about the future of Kashmir.

Editor of Public Opinions and Trends Sushant Sareen says, ``The prime minister`s roundtable on Kashmir has shown that there is no uniformity of views amongst Kashmiris. The region carries a multiplicity of views. Hurriyat, which is a non-entity, is getting attention it doesn`t deserve. It`s high time the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, who have been denied rights by Pakistan, and the people of PoK get our attention.``

Dr Ajaya Sahni, who organised the meeting, said, ``Unfortunately, discussions on Kashmir are overwhelmingly defined by people who resort to terrorism. People who are displaced, marginalised and the voices of non-violence are neglected. Now is the time to respect those voices that have rejected terrorism.``

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#9
The point is encouraging pak students to study in india will go a long way in building bridges and removing misunderstandings. The opportunity gain far outweighs any opportunity cost. Living expenses are comparable between the two countries and scholarship amounts can be same as what indian students are provided. Funds could be diverted from defence expenditure if need be.

yeah ok but kashmir should be resolved first, and then plight of IMs and then maybe..