#IndiawithPakistan - solidarity trends across the border on social media

Immediately following the Taliban attack, Indians showed their solidarity with Pakistan as the #IndiawithPakistan hashtag began trending on Twitter

India and Pakistan have historically had antagonistic ties. Bilateral talks of peace have failed in most cases due to the contentious Kashmir issue. But the brutal attack on an army school by the Taliban resulting in the deaths of 132 children and nine staff seems to have sent ripples of shock throughout the world. First person accounts of survivors and visuals of injured children being taken to the hospital has sparked not only outrage on social media but also empathy for the victims and their families.Tuesday’s show of support overshadowed the strained relations between the two nations, with even PM Modi reaching out to PM Nawaz Sharif on Twitter:

 

India stands firmly with Pakistan in fight against terror. Told PM Sharif we are ready to provide all assistance during this hour of grief.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2014

Today, schools across India observed two minutes of silence. 

International media like BBC and TIME report that thousands of messages were shared between the two nations.

No parent should have to bury their child. Thoughts and prayers with the families of the children. #IndiaWithPakistan

— Lester Fernandes (@leztah) December 16, 2014

Something about this whole incident that surpasses every religion, caste, creed to evoke a sense of despair in you. #IndiawithPakistan

— Aman Khurana (@Aman6394) December 16, 2014

Thank you indians. We need support. #indiawithpakistan

— maaha. (@thismelancholic) December 16, 2014

Its overwhelming to see the support and prayers pouring in from India, #ThankU friends on the other side of the border. #IndiawithPakistan

— Muhammad Iqbal (@M_IqbaI) December 17, 2014

Massive respect for our friends across the border for #IndiawithPakistan. Rivalries are secondary, humanity wins.

— Emad Zafar (@EmadZafar) December 17, 2014

The BBC reports that the idea originated with Tehseen Poonawalla, an entrepreneur and newspaper columnist from Delhi. Poonawalla told the BBC he did not expect the hashtag to go viral so quickly and said the inspiration for the hashtag came from #illridewithyou which began trending in the aftermath of the hostage incident in Australia.

However, some Twitter users were very critical of India’s outreach.

The IB Times reports that a Pakistani security analyst Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid blamed India for the attacks even after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. The report also said that one Twitter user even made references to the India-Pakistan 1971 war.

India, we will NOT forgive you for this atrocity ! You chose the day of December 16th to rub it in. We stand firm, united & will crush you !

— Zaid Hamid (@ZaidZamanHamid) December 16, 2014

It was brutality by India on 16 Dec 1971 Its brutality once again by indian agents today on 16 Dec 2014 #PeshawarAttack #IndianTaliban

— SIDRA | Insaf Radio (@imran_sidra) December 16, 2014