For many Afghans, music is seen as a tool that could be used to break down cultural barriers and bring nations closer together – especially Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

They say music and other cultural activities also have the power to help ease tension between the two nations. 

OLOnews chatted to two young Afghans recently who were spotted in a Kabul city park, listening to Pakistani music. 

They said music is “without borders and can easily be used as a bridge,” adding that music can be used to help repair bad relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

In this report, other Afghans also speak about how they think cultural activities can positively impact relations between the two neighboring countries.

This comes after Kabul recently hosted a three-day regional cultural festival that incorporated musicians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Musicians from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, including Pakistan’s famous singer Zeb Bangash, and India’s Mohammad Muneem, performed traditional songs and many said

that the festival had allowed them to forget their cultural differences.

The festival – Caravanserai – provided the cross-cultural platform for artists, poets, musicians and singers. 

Organizers said such festivals would help promote friendship and peace between nations in the region.

One poet and writer, Ghafoor Laiwal, who took part in the festival, said that holding such events revives common values between regional countries which have been damaged after decades of war.

“If we truly believe in a common humanity, then we must work to revive the love and sentiments we lost through political relations,” said Laiwal.

Participants at the festival also stressed the need for further development of cultural activities to promote peace and stability in the region.

“We must use art for ethics and strengthening human thought. Such thoughts could help to promote tolerance, love and affection,” said Afghan film maker Roya Sadaat.