He was also a human rights activist and apeace activist. He was a member of India's delegation to the United Nations in 1996.[11] He was appointed High Commissioner to Great Britain in 1990 and nominated to the upper house ofIndian Parliament,Rajya Sabha in August 1997.[11]
Every year since 2000, Nayar had been leading peace activists to light candles on the Independence days of Pakistan and India (14/15 August) at the Attari-Wagah India-Pakistan border near Amritsar.[19]
He was a close friend of another Pakistani politician ch. Jaleel Ahmed Khan (Ex-MNA) who arranged the launch of Nayar's book (Beyond the lines : An Autobiography) in Avari hotel Lahore in 2013. Both of them participated in various peace enhancing events in both countries as ch. Jaleel Ahmed Khan a senior Pakistani politician who migrated from India in 1947 also strongly advocated peace between the two neighboring countries.[20]
He had started a tradition of candle vigil since 1995 at Indo-Pak Wagah Border during midnight of 14–15 August for India-Pakistan Peace through celebration of Independence Day and remembering people of both sides. In later years of his life, he could not participate in this due to his old age but inspired many young folks to continue the tradition.[21] Ten days before his death, he had flagged off 'Aman-Dosti Yatra' which was a 40-member delegation of Aaghaz-e-Dosti that marched from Delhi to Wagah Border under leadership of Aaghaz-e-Dosti founder Ravi Nitesh and Gandhi Global family's secretary Ram Mohan Rai for lighting candles for Indo-Pak Peace and thus continued his legacy.[22] This was his last public presence.[23]
As a political commentator, Nayar wrote his views freely on most politically current issues.[24][25] He had supported the movement ofAnna Hazare[11] and chided the Pakistan Government for not apologising for the army atrocities inEast Pakistan in 1971 that led to the formation ofBangladesh,[26] and for allowing drugs to be smuggled into India.[27]
Nayar has been accused of supporting "anti-Indian conspiracy theories". In a February 2010 article in Pakistani newspaperDawn, he alleged that the Indian anti-terrorism squad leaderHemant Karkare was murdered by Hindu right-wing activists.[28] In July 2011 US authorities confirmed that Nayar attended many events in United States hosted by and supported bySyed Ghulam Nabi Fai, which had been funded by Pakistan ISI.[29]
Kuldip Nayar has written widely about current issues and historic persons, includingJawaharlal Nehru andBarry Manilow. Nayar has advocated a policy of bilateral talks and engagement with India's neighbour Pakistan. He was known for his vision of a new South Asia, in which Pakistan and India would be on friendly terms.[30][31]
Nayar's autobiography is entitledBeyond the Lines.[32] The book was released in July 2012.[30] In 1999, he was awarded an Alumni Merit Award by Northwestern University.[32]
