NATIONS' FEUD HASN'T KILLED HOPES FOR PEACE

Americans have watched as Pakistan prepared to support the United States in its campaign against terrorism. Pakistan's leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has distanced his country from Afghanistan, angering his people and Afghanistan's Taliban government, which he previously supported. The larger conflict, however, exists with Pakistan's neighbor to the south and east, India.

Although carved from the same branch of the British Empire, Pakistan and India have followed different courses as independent nations. India has developed into a thriving democracy, while Pakistan has spent most of its 54 years of independence under dictatorships. Pakistan is overwhelmingly Muslim, and India is largely Hindu.

The mostly Muslim state of Kashmir in northern India, which was divided between India and Pakistan after their independence -- but which both claim in its entirety -- has been the focus of two wars and years of mutual hatred. In recent years, the two nations' buildup of nuclear weapons has increased tensions.

Earlier this year, members of Y-Press spoke by phone with girls in India and Pakistan about their thoughts on the conflict and their hopes for the future.

Chitra Chaterjee, 14, of India: I'm very proud to be an Indian. . . . I have lots of friends, and our culture is very colorful. I like reading, I like swimming, and I basically like surfing the computer. My school is a very well-known school in Calcutta. . . . It's very, very modern.

I think I've been aware of (the conflict in Kashmir) ever since I have been reading newspapers, ever since I've been watching the news broadcasts from television. . . . At first I was angry at Pakistan, but then . . . I learned it's basically something that is not anybody's fault. We have to sort the things out. . . .

I'm sad so many people had to die. I'm sad that the world has such a bad view of both countries. . . .

(In school) we're not taught anything about Pakistan and its people. We know that its culture is very much like ours -- we speak the very same languages. But we don't really know much about Pakistan except for the fact it is, you know, it is one of the neighboring countries and that we had a fight. . . . We have lots in common (with Pakistan). We have the same holidays, and some of our food is the same. . . . Our skin is pretty much the same -- we are of the same color.

I would change the way everybody (in India and Pakistan) looks at Kashmir. . . . The way people fight over that piece of land -- it's just a piece of land. It should be let go of. We should forget about it and carry on. . . .

Kashmiris, maybe they should be given their own choice. If the people really want to go over to Pakistan, then they will do that at some time or another. . . . I think instead of government negotiations, which have been dragged on for so many years, I think the people should get into the negotiations. I think it should start with the students, an exchange of students. . . .

I think the people should make an active effort to get to know Pakistan better. It should be on both sides. I think this is the best way that we can resolve this dispute, because there is no other way.

Zainb Salam, 16, of Pakistan: The life in Pakistan is very good. I hear that Pakistan is backwards, but it's a very nice country. I don't call Pakistan backwards. I live in Islamabad. I go to a British-run school. It is private, and it's a very nice school.

My school teaches me about India, like we can get together if we respect everyone. I was taught we are two different countries, two different religions. It's Muslim and Hinduism. And Hindus, they have their own customs, their own way of living. . . .

The religion, first of all, is different; also paintings, and customs. Things the same (are) maybe they think like us. Maybe their clothing isn't too different from us. They also cover their bodies. (Hindus) don't bury their dead bodies. They just build a fire (and cremate their dead), and in Islam we bury our dead bodies. They worship idols, stone elephants. They don't eat cow because they worship cow, but in Islam we worship Allah (God), and we eat cow because it's allowed. We don't worship cow.

In Muslim, we have to respect everyone, (even) if it's a Muslim, Hindu or Christian. We respect Hindus, . . . but they think Muslims are very bad. . . .

I think that the two countries can't be together, that they should remain India and we should remain Pakistan. They should let India own Kashmir, and (Kashmiris) can worship anyone they want to. And the Muslims also will have their own country, but they should respect the Hindus and Hindus should respect the Muslims.

(In my community, people) say that they would like Muslims and Hindus to get together. (They say that) everyone has their own religion, . . . but they can be together if they can respect (each other).

I don't agree. We can be friends, but not like we can live together or something because they worship idols and we worship Allah. . . .

They should talk nice about Pakistan, and Pakistan should talk nice about India. . . . (I wish) we could live with each other.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Jama Riley, 18, and David Maus, 16.

REPORTER: Maria Srour, 13.