NEW YORK | As part of her first trip to India as U.S Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton praised the work of Seeds of Peace in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In a major speech delivered in New Delhi, Secretary Clinton said: “I know that there are Indian and Pakistani members of Seeds of Peace in the audience today who are working to transcend historic divides and begin to plant the seeds, however small, of understanding.”
Shayam Kapadia, a young Seed from Mumbai, stood up to ask Secretary Clinton a question during the following Q&A session: “How do you view the role and how your administration will encourage youth and nongovernmental organization in promoting peace and democracy, as well on the other hand as combating extremism in the region?”
Secretary Clinton responded, “It’s a wonderful question, and thank you for participating in Seeds of Peace. I think it’s very courageous for Indian and Pakistani young people to sort of take that step to listen to each other, to talk to each other.”
“I’m a big believer in talking … It doesn’t mean you give up your principles, your values, your interests, your safety and security. But through talking, perhaps progress can be made on both the governmental level, and what you’re doing through Seeds of Peace.”
“Combating terrorism and extremism is our number one challenge. So anything we can do to try to convey support for those who are standing up against extremism anywhere is part of my mission and our country’s mission. I hope that we’ll find new and creative ways to enhance people-to-people connections in this region, in particular. Some of it can be through organizations, some of it can be through businesses, academics, person-to-person, but I believe it in very strongly, and I think it holds great promise.”