In a world where headlines are filled with wars, border tensions, and diplomatic stand-offs, peace often seems like a distant dream. The first phase of the Gaza peace plan has just begun, offering a faint but welcome glimmer of hope in a region that has seen decades of conflict. Yet, while one step is taken toward peace, elsewhere the guns continue to roar - the Russia-Ukraine war shows no signs of ending, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan keep resurfacing, and the fragile calm between India and Pakistan remains clouded by mistrust. From time to time, Israel and Iran too stand at the brink of confrontation.

In such a world, peace building and global collaboration are not just lofty ideals - they are essential for our survival and progress.

Peace building is not only about stopping wars. It is about addressing the reasons why they start in the first place - poverty, inequality, injustice, and the feeling of being unheard or left behind. True peace comes when communities can live with dignity, when youth have jobs, when women feel safe, and when dialogue replaces hate.

Global collaboration means nations working together to solve shared problems - whether it's conflict, climate change, migration, or public health. No country can live in isolation today. The pandemic showed us that a virus does not need a passport. Similarly, war in one region impacts fuel prices, food supply, and economies everywhere.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has shaken global food and energy security. The fighting has led to shortages of wheat, sunflower oil, and fuel - things that reach dinner tables across continents. Conflicts in the Middle East impact global stability and energy markets. Even diplomatic tensions between neighbours like India and Pakistan or Pakistan and Afghanistan affect trade, security, and the overall sense of peace in South Asia.

When countries choose dialogue over aggression, the benefits go beyond borders. The recent efforts by multiple nations to mediate in Gaza - including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States - show how collaboration can slowly rebuild trust. These efforts also remind us that peacebuilding is a continuous process, not a one-time event.

The Role of Ordinary People and Institutions

Peace building is not limited to governments and diplomats. Civil society groups, think tanks, educational institutions, and individuals play a big role too. When young people across countries interact through cultural or academic exchanges, they see each other as humans, not as enemies. When journalists tell stories of hope, when communities support refugees, when businesses promote fairness and sustainability, they all become small but important pieces of the peace puzzle.

At a time when the world feels divided, collaboration is our strongest bridge. The work of peace builders - whether in Gaza, Kyiv, or Kashmir - reminds us that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of understanding, empathy, and justice.

Promoting dialogue, cooperation, and empathy across borders is central to building a more secure and humane world. In the end, every step toward peace anywhere strengthens humanity everywhere.

(Ankur Sharma is a media and communications professional with 16 years of experience. A Journalism graduate from IMS Dehradun, he has worked with DD News, Times Now, and as Media Advisor to Education Ministers of India, managing communications across diverse sectors).
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