JOSEPH Nye’s soft power encourages cooperation through different tools to align with each other’s ambitions. According to him, soft power “rests on the ability to shape the preferences of others.” Today, in the modern strategic competition between the major powers, Pakistan is balancing its ties with all states. Despite many ups and downs, what is important is Islamabad’s consistent and resilient foreign policy towards these countries. However, one of the important elements that helps create a strong bond with other countries is the cultural exchange programs.
Recently, Pakistan started expanding cooperation in promoting cultural exchange programs with Russia. In the discussion between Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in June last year, both sides reiterated the expansion of cooperation in “higher education, culture and science & technology”. Moreover, in the latest development, Pakistan’s Caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Jamal Shah also held a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Pakistan to discuss the cultural ties between the two countries.
Historically, there were many ups and downs in Islamabad’s relations with Moscow due to Pakistan’s stance in the Cold War. But the recent cultural cooperation with Moscowis transferred to the local level to build people-to-people connections. Pakistan is participating in Youth Festival ‘Sochi’ scheduled to be held in February and March 2024 in Russia. In this regard, the civil society of Pakistan in collaboration with the National Preparatory Committee (NPC) conducted several activities in the country.
NPC Advisory Council, led by Amar Lal, with Dr Shahid Hasan as the Chief Pattern and current Ambassador of Russia for Education and Science as well as Chairman of the Pakistan Association of Graduates from Russia, boasts a longstanding history of friendship with Russia. This Council played a pivotal role in leading delegations from Pakistan to North Korea in 1989, Cuba in 1973 and to Germany and Moscow for the Festival of World Youth Aussie and Russia Manager events since 1947, with the first event taking place in 1957.
In recent developments, NPC orchestrated a youth festival at the Punjab Institute of Languages and Arts/Culture in Lahore. Similarly, the Advisory Council consists of ex-student leaders, young activists, leaders, journalists, doctors and young politicians arranged a meeting for the preparation of the Youth Festival in Lahore.
Youth festivals are direly important for the nourishment of young minds and the promotion of new leaders. In a meeting held at Friendship House Russia in Karachi, NPC worker Chaudhary Mushtaque noted that such festivals may “promote peace & prosperity, free education, health and self-reliance of nations.” Not only does it promote peace and stability, but such festivals are important for the realisation of competition, brotherhood and unity. In their meeting in Islamabad, NPC and young adults gathered under the slogan “Let’s start the future together.” Therefore, such conventions which are human-friendly require a sponsorship at the governmental level to bring new minds.
Given the enormous cultural exchange programs, promoting bilateral cooperation, it is reflected that the country is spending its resources to bring nations together. Recently added cultural exchange programs such asYouth Festival in Russia is likely to strengthen the bilateral relations of Pakistan with other countries in the region. Such an approach will not only improve Pakistan’s perspective across the world but also mitigate the historical intricacies.
—The writer is a Communications and Research Assistant at the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research (CSCR).
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views expressed are writer’s own.
