/> Even as Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sang an off-key tune in India this week Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar went across the border along with 10 theatre artists including MS Sathyu, Shama Zaidi, Atul Tiwari, Rajendra Gupta and Lubna Arif on an invitation from the Faiz Foundation for the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Centennial.

Shabana had a tearful reunion with Faiz's two daughters Salima and Moneeza Hashmi.

Says Shabana, "Faiz is my most favourite poet of all and even Abba (father Kaifi Azmi)accepted that without qualms. Faiz's completed works Saare Sukhan Hamare accompanies wherever I go."

About her indelible bonding with Faiz's daughters Shabana says, "Salima and Moneeza Hashmi and I came together in sisterhood because we share a common heritage having been raised as children of the Progressive Writers Movement." Shabana made history with Javed by crossing the Wagah border on her feet.

"Since I was shooting in Colombo the fastest way of reaching Lahore was across the Wagah border. It was the first time for me. To see India on one side and Pakistan on the other with just a thin line separating the two countries is overwhelming.

Faiz's daughters were waiting on the other side with outstretched arms and garlands of roses. We ran across with open arms and tears flowed down our eyes as we hugged each other.Not a single eye around us was dry."

Shabana urges the illwill between the two countries to end. Her father Kaifi Azmi and the Hashmi Sisters' father Faiz Ahmed Faiz desired to dissolve differences between the two nations.

Says Shabana pasasionately, " Our fathers struggled all their lives for social justice and empowerment of the underpriveleged. They dreamed of a harmonius world.

Artists can only speak the language of peace and sisterhood because art knows no boundaries. Javed's song Panchi nadiya pawan ke jhonke koi sarhad na inhe roke from the film Refugee had never sounded more relevant. In Lahore we were welcomed and feted with all the warmth of Pakistani hospitality.

I sang Faiz's poem Bol. Javed read a paper on the PWA and Ila Arun regaled them with Faiz sung in Rajasthani folk style. And we ate the best food in the world."

Shabana wants the animosity across the border to end. "We must encourage people to people contact. Today is the time not only of countries but of regions. If the European union can come together why can't our subcontinent?

We should come together for art and trade and set the agenda for our respective govts that people in both countries want peace not enemity.We should have joint ventures in film co- productions.The youth needs to make exchange trips."