GANDHARA Symposium 2023: Cultural Diplomacy: Reviving Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan, organized last month by PM’s Task Force on Gandhara Tourism; Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI); and Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa started an intriguing debate among the experts as far as projection of Gandhara Civilization is concerned. In the contemporary world, Pakistan is the only country in the world at the same time home to two ancient civilizations like the Gandhara Civilization and Indus Valley Civilization. Mortimer Wheeler in his classical book entitled “Five Thousand Years of Pakistan” argues that the Gandhara Civilization and Indus Civilization are the genuine pride of Pakistan. Why has Pakistan despite being an epicentre of civilizations not fully utilized its genuine pride? What modus operandi under CPEC could be implemented to get maximum dividends from its civilizational potential?
Civilizations are the historical legacy of nations, promoting cultural dialogue and fostering people-to-people contacts and peace via exchange of norms and values. Gandhara Civilization in Pakistan includes the areas of the Indus River in the West and Kabul River in the North encompassing the valleys of Swat, Dir, Bajaur and Peshawar expanded to eastwards to the Taxila valley in Punjab including Jhelum, Sialkot in Punjab. In the west, it extended to Hadda and Bamiyan in Afghanistan including Kashmir on the part of greater Gandhara. Bear in mind, it is the birthplace of the Buddhist religion. Pakistan under CPEC is likely to become a hub of civilizations connecting different civilizations of the world. A large number of Buddhists in China including Southeast Asian states, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are fascinated to visit the Gandhara Civilization.
China and Pakistan have interlinked the roots of civilization when tracking the origins of ancient civilizations. The flow of Indus River water originates from the Tibetan mountains of China. Chinese Civilization depended on the Yellow River, its water flow also originated from the Tibetan mountains. Both civilizations have had a long-term influence on modern headways in architecture and scientific discoveries. China’s Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) aimed at fostering and respecting the diversity of civilizations, emphasizing the importance of cultural inheritance, highlighting common values and advocating people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. The increasing overlapping similarities between GCI and the revival of the Gandhara Civilization under CPEC might embark a path to the projection of two ancient civilizations of China and Pakistan in the foreseeable future.
China has the world’s largest Buddhist population encompassing 245 million Buddhists. Beijing uses Buddhist diplomacy in Southeast Asian states resulting in the projection of its soft power and diplomatic influence across the region. Under CPEC, Gandhara Civilization can be promoted by espousing the Chinese footpaths to project ancient civilization, religious harmony, winning the hearts and minds of the Buddhists. Cajoling Chinese Buddhists to visit Gandhara Civilization would, by and large, bolster civilizational ties.
China is the world’s largest outbound tourism industry. Beijing’s outbound tourism in 2019 reached approximately 155 million, almost three times as many as 2010. Pakistan is viewed as an Iron Brother in Chinese political discourse but the former failed to capitalize on the latter’s outbound tourism industry. Islamabad should not miss the bus and ought to exploit Chinese outbound tourism, encouraging them to visit Gandhara Civilization and Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Gandhara Civilization represents the living religion. In more than 29 countries Buddhism is practiced. Pakistan is a great source to be connected with 29 countries of the world where Buddhism is followed. Buddhism is a local religion in China, while other Buddhist countries such as Thailand, South Korea, Myanmar and Sri Lanka have a Buddhist identity. Pakistan has an Islamic identity, similarly, the Buddhist states have a Buddhist identity which exists in Pakistan. Islamabad promotes better ties with Muslim countries presently and can also promote diplomatic relations and religious harmony with the Buddhist states by using Gandhara Civilization under CPEC.
Pakistan has many sites of the Gandhara Civilization like the Taxila World Heritage Site, the Buddhist ruins of Takht-i-Bahi Mardan and Dharmarajika Stupa. Interestingly, the above-mentioned sites are on the world’s heritage list. In Swat Valley, more than six thousand monasteries were built. For Buddhist pilgrims, Takht-i-Bahi, Mardan is a huge complex and monastery. A corridor for Buddhist sacred sites could be built in coordination with South Asia and East Asia countries. Government should start publicity of Gandhara Civilization and start work on its infrastructure. When road and railway infrastructures under CPEC are built in adjacent areas of the Gandhara Civilization including stupas, monasteries and historical sites, Pakistan would benefit massively in terms of economy, religious tourism and soft power projection.
Celebrating Gandhara Civilization Day in a year would prove productive. Different Buddhist countries could be involved in Gandhara Civilization Day. Organizing seminars, involving scholars, journalists and followers of the Buddhist countries will present a positive image to the international community. Under CPEC, art pieces of the Gandhara Civilization present in Peshawar and Swat museums could be displayed in the Buddhist countries, paving the way for the awareness of the Gandhara Civilization and the importance of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan lacks professionals to oversee the preservation of Buddhist sites. Management of historical sites is in dismal condition. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country appear to be vanishing due to poor management. Gandhara Civilization is the least funded department in the country. The plundering of the stupas and historical pieces of equipment is an unfortunate episode in the land of the pure. There is an open trade in the black market selling treasure and Gandhara arts. Pakistan under CPEC needs to promote Gandhara Civilization by improving political instability, countering terrorism and extremism, fostering better ties with neighbouring countries, curbing growing radicalization, improving Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), eschewing excessive use of hard power, stopping plundering of stupas, improving infrastructure, mismanagement of the tourism sector and poor governance.
