The prize evoked mixed reactions among the expat community from the subcontinent. Some of them were elated and described it as a huge recognition of their untiring efforts, whereas others said Nobel prize has lost its nobility.

Javed Akhtar Javed, a Pakistani writer and poet, said: “As a Pakistani, it is indeed a matter of pride for us. Malala, 17, is Pakistan’s daughter and she has made us proud by becoming the youngest ever Nobel laureate in its long history.”

He also exuded confidence that Malala sharing the Nobel prize for peace will help ease tension along the Indo-Pak border and promote talks for the restoration of peaceful co-existence.

On the other hand, Mahmoud Ahmad Bajwa, a Riyadh-based financial consultant from Pakistan, believes the two winners are not qualified enough to maintain the nobility of the great honor.

“I admire the good work done by the duo for children’s rights in their respective countries, but it is not at par with many others,” Bajwa added.

NRI Mohammad Quaiser said: “It is good that the duo from the troubled subcontinent has been honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, but it is hard to find the nobility in their work.”

What is alarming is that the day when this great announcement was made, the cross-border firing between the two countries was on with civilians under fire.

Mohammad Shabbir Nadwi, a Riyadh-based NRI, applauded the Nobel Peace Prize for the duo.

Notably, the political leadership and the governments in the two countries rallied around Malala and Satyarthi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi quickly extended his congratulations to the duo for sharing the Nobel Peace Prize. His Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif hailed Malala as the pride of Pakistan for winning the Nobel prize.

Earlier, announcing the top global award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee named Malala and Satyarthi as the joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize this year for promoting child rights in the troubled subcontinent.

The Nobel Committee said: “Children’s rights activists Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi of India have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.”

Malala, a schoolgirl and education campaigner in Pakistan shot to fame after hit by bullet in the head by a Taleban gunman two years ago.

Satyarthi (60) gave up his career as an electrical engineer over three decades ago to start Bachpan Bachao Andolan, or Save the Childhood Movement. Today the non-profit organization he founded is leading the movement to eliminate child trafficking and child labor in India.