In an age marked by rising walls, both literal and figurative, the world risks forgetting a timeless truth: the greatest creators of peace, knowledge, and prosperity are ordinary people who reach across cultural divides. My journey—as the son of Pakistani immigrants, as a student, and as the founder of the South Asian rock band Junoon—has taught me firsthand that what truly transforms individuals and societies is not suspicion of the “other,” but the act of getting to know one another. This lesson is as old as humanity itself, beautifully distilled in the Quranic verse 49:13:

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other).”

A Family’s Leap of Faith

My mother, Shahine Ahmad, was just 18 and a student in Lahore when she boldly petitioned her parents to let her travel to the U.S. through the American Field Service (AFS) student program. It was then—and should be again—a shining example of affordable international exchange. She spent a transformative year at Oakland High School in California, living with two warm and loving American families- the Coles and the Mortensons- and even meeting President John F. Kennedy at the White House. This experience did not create merely a bridge between Lahore and Oakland; it became the foundation for her personal growth, for our family’s transatlantic journey, and for our lasting bond with America.

Her story inspired my father, Ejaz Ahmad, to bring our family to Washington, D.C. and later New York when he worked for PIA and Kuwait Airways. My siblings and I attended excellent U.S. schools, became dual citizens, and soon found ourselves helping build bridges between our heritage and our home.

We have always seen ourselves as ambassadors—proud Pakistanis, proud Americans—committed to enriching both lands.

Building Bridges Through Music

I carried this ethos forward when I invited my high school friends, Brian O’Connell and John Alec, to Pakistan to play and produce music with Junoon. Our experiment in cross-cultural music became a phenomenon—Junoon sold over 50 million albums, played for millions, and showed the world that melody carries no passport. The most profound gift, however, was not the fame or the record sales, but the deep connections and common ground Junoon sparked between people from different cultures.

Why People-to-People Exchanges Matter Even More Today

Yet, as the world grows more interconnected, fear and suspicion have paradoxically deepened. Today, immigration policies—like the Trump administration’s recent $100,000 annual fee on H1B skilled worker visas—threaten to choke the very pipelines that for decades have brought skilled talent from Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere into America’s laboratories, hospitals, and boardrooms.

Pakistani-Americans, for example, have among the nation’s highest education and income levels, but these policies are risk stalling the next generation’s dreams, while stifling American innovation and global competitiveness in the process.

Statistics and studies underscore what my mother’s journey and Junoon’s music lived out: international exchanges do not merely enrich individuals. They power economies, foster empathy and social cohesion, and catalyze innovation. According to a new Global Ties U.S. study, 82% of respondents say that exchange programs “humanize global affairs and inspire curiosity about the world,” with tangible benefits for U.S. workforce development and community prosperity.

UNESCO and U.S. State Department research agrees—these exchanges foster more inclusive societies, dissolve prejudice, and help participants become more creative, adaptable thinkers.

A Warning: The Danger of Closed Doors

At a time when suspicion and restrictive policies threaten cross-cultural contact, we must recognize the cost—not just to immigrants, but to the American spirit itself. After all, every cross-cultural friendship or collaboration is a grain of sand against the tide of extremism, ignorance, and division. Buttoned-down visa rules and rhetoric that casts immigrants as threats chip away at these connections and risk making the world smaller, less kind, and ultimately, less safe.

Learning from Our Differences

When we “ know one another” and not “despise one another”—it is not only moral guidance but practical wisdom. True wealth, prosperity, and peace arise when we meet as humans, learn from each other’s stories and gifts, and build trust through shared endeavors. In music, as in science and everyday life, some of life’s greatest harmonies are born when different notes mingle.

A Plea for Openness

Let us not be the generation that forgets what made us strong. Whether in the classroom, the concert hall, or the halls of power, let us widen the doors, champion people-to-people exchange, and rediscover the enduring wealth of our shared humanity. In doing so, we do not simply enrich immigrants or Americans—we secure a better, more peaceful future for all.