( CNN ) -- One half Indian , the other Pakistani , they are the most talked-about partnership in tennis . Dubbed `` the Indo-Pakistan Express , '' Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi hope to end their breakthrough year with a showdown at the infamous Wagah border that divides their countries . Bopanna , an Indian Hindu , and Qureshi , a Pakistani Muslim also aged 30 , reached their first major doubles final at the U.S. Open in September and climbed to eighth in the world rankings . Yet their work off the court has attracted just as much attention as they try to soften the often-fractious relationship between their two nations since partition in 1947 . The pair have been honored with a string of awards for their humanitarian work in the past 12 months , and are determined to start picking up tournament titles in 2011 . Can champion duo 's reunion spark an Indian tennis boom ? But a showpiece clash at the notorious border crossing that hosts a nightly pageant between India and Pakistan 's border forces would be the perfect way to carry their `` Stop War , Start Tennis '' campaign into the new year . `` We 're thinking how to get to a wider audience and spread the message of peace through our partnership and thought , '' Qureshi told CNN 's Open Court . `` How about playing a match at the Wagah border , with Rohan playing on the Pakistani side and me on the Indian side for a gesture of friendship ? `` At the U.S. Open the ambassadors to the United Nations for Pakistan and India both came to watch the semifinals and finals . That was a huge deal because normally you do n't see two diplomats cheering for one cause -- it was a really positive sign . I just hope in the near future we can have that match at the border , that would be great . '' The village of Wagah , near the Indian city of Amritsar and the Pakistani city of Lahore , is the only road border crossing between the two countries , and the daily ceremony -- which includes a lot of strutting , stamping and saluting -- regularly attracts a crowd of thousands . A match there could be a watershed moment for a pairing that first emerged in 2003 but did not make a major impact until this season . Their burgeoning partnership on court is allied to a deep-rooted desire to strengthen links between two countries which have a long and deep distrust of each other . `` We 're both brand ambassadors for an organization called Peace and Sport , '' Bopanna said . `` Right now we 're trying to see if we can help tennis in both our countries , promote it and keep the sport growing as much as we can . '' As well as receiving the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award at the recent ATP World Tour Finals in London , they were also given the Peace and Sport Award for 2010 at a glittering ceremony in Monaco . The citation read : `` Their commitment to promoting peace between the two countries and their conviction that peace was possible was shown amply during the year . '' Joel Bouzou , president of the Peace and Sport Foundation , added of the proposed Wagah match : `` The sport is ready for peace . Will the two governments rise to the occasion ? '' Their partnership may have attracted plenty of headlines but for Qureshi , teaming up with his Indian counterpart made perfect sense . `` I 've been playing with Indian players ever since I started playing tennis , '' he said . `` Unfortunately there are not that many Pakistanis on the tour , and playing with an Indian was actually the most natural thing that came to me -- having the same language , most of the time having the same dinner , Indian or Pakistani foods in the evening . `` The first time I ever traveled to India when I was 16 , I was one of the top [ Pakistani ] juniors and he was one of the top juniors in India and that 's how I got to know him . `` Knowing his attacking style of play , I always knew if we played together we 'd be able to make a really good impact . I think results clearly show in that way I was right , though normally he tells me that I am always wrong ! '' As well as their run to the final of the U.S. Open , where they were beaten by the Bryan brothers from America , they also enjoyed success at Wimbledon which made them household names back home . `` This year we made the quarterfinal at Wimbledon and that was very , very big in Pakistan , '' Qureshi said . `` I 've always told him I think he 's the most popular Indian guy in Pakistan this year ! `` I can thank him enough for that because obviously without him I would n't have been able to achieve all those goals , and with him being my best friend on the tour it makes it the icing on the cake . It 's been a great journey so far . ''
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi are the most talked about doubles pairing in tennis . Qureshi is an Indian a Pakistani Muslim while Qureshi is a Pakistani Muslim . The pair are known for their Humanitarian work to strengthen links between their countries . They made the the past 12 months the U.S. Open final and want to stage a match on the Pakistan - Pakistan border .