Last month one of my dreams came true – I visited Pakistan, the country, which was always interesting and a bit mysterious for me, the country, from which I have many good friends. At the same time, I have to mention that here in Ukraine the image of Pakistan is far from positive: we heard about terrorist attacks, radical islamists’ groups and, of course, the complicated relationship with bigger neighbor, India. This was the additional reason for me, as a specialist on South Asia history and politics, to visit Pakistan – to see the other side of the picture, to know more about this part of the sub-continent, to feel the cultural spirit and try to understand people’s mentality.
Obviously, one week is a very short period and it is not enough to catch everything, but it’s good for the very beginning. At least, I got this lucky chance to be there, to meet the people, to have new friends, to see many beautiful places by my own eyes. The only visit to famous Lahore fort was a good reason to be in Pakistan, and I had much more chances to be closer to the amazing culture of South Indian subcontinent!
So, my personal wishes – is one part of the story, but the official objective of my visit was to give some ideas about Ukrainian geopolitical situation, external affairs, challenges and perspectives we have. I really tried my best to bring a true spirit of current situation in Ukraine, to tell the scholars, businessmen and young people, mostly students, why our country is a unique one and what is our bilateral relationship story. Let me say, that I always feel myself among the friends, who are eager to understand my country, even when they ask many controversial questions and sometimes try to doubt my points. It’s quite strange, but I was absolutely comfortable, may be because I understood – their knowledge about Ukraine is so poor and it is not their fault. Unfortunately, Ukraine’s image is also very far from favorable, or there is no image at all, because there is a huge gap in information between both our nations. To overcome it we have to begin with something and I estimate my journey as one of the first attempts.
The visit became possible due to tremendous efforts made by the Embassy of Ukraine in Pakistan, H.E. V.Lakomov, Ambassador, in personal, and huge support given by the Embassy of IRP in Ukraine, in particular H.E.Athar Abbas, Ambassador of Pakistan, who is himself our good colleague, he came with interesting lectures to our Institute several times. Special thanks – to Honorable Consul General of Ukraine in Pakistan Engr. M.A.Jabbar, due to his moral and financial support in one week only I visited three main cities of Pakistan – Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, delivered 5 lectures at the flagship universities and the most eminent country’s think-tanks.
Olena Bordilovska during her trip to Pakistan on May 3-9. (Courtesy)
Official invitation came from the IIR partner institute – SPIR (School of Politics and International Relations), Quaed-e-Azam university, Islamabad, as we already established good collaboration and provided a webinar dedicated to The Pakistan Day and 25th anniversary of Ukraine – Pakistan bilateral relationship on March 22. So, my visit started with the SPIR event – Seminar on Muhammad Asad, a Jew, converted to Islam, who was born in Lviv in 1900 and became known as a Westerner, who tried to understand the rules of Islam. What is more, he could be recognized as one of the founders of Pakistan as he was the one, who created the Constitution of this Islamic State. On May 3 the event was organized specially for the students of School of Politics and International Relations by the Embassies of Austria and Ukraine in Pakistan, three countries “responsible” for M.Asad life and activity, and colleagues from SPIR. I made a short presentation about M.Asad and also delivered a lecture on Geopolitics of Ukraine. Thus my journey begun, it was very intensive and, let’s say productive: next day, May 4, lecture on ‘Foreign Policy of Ukraine: the main principles and current challenges’ has been presented at one of the eminent think-tanks, based in Islamabad – SDPI (Sustainable Development Policy Institute). It was an outlook of peace and security related challenges that were being face by Ukraine due to unwarranted Russian aggression. As always, a lot of questions about European aspirations of Ukraine and “divorce” with Russia, sometimes they looked a bit provocative, but facts and figures work well: I hope, now my colleagues in Pakistan can understand the situation in our part of the world much more better.
Special cultural program – visit to Lahore, with Badshahi Mazjeed, Lahore fort and Museum, Wagah border ceremony (this spectaculous tradition should be examined separately as a very unique one) turned this trip into extremely interesting and inspiring journey. The amazing collection of Lahore Museum made me absolutely happy, from greatest Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro artifacts to Mogul period miniatures, these beautiful things remind you the whole story of the subcontinent. Concert of traditional Sindhi music in Karachi was the next step to be engaged with rich cultural tradition of the country.
Olena Bordilovska during her trip to Pakistan on May 3-9. (Courtesy)
Later, lectures and discussions have been provided at well-known educational institutions and think-tanks in Karachi: Iqra University, Karachi University, Karachi Council of Foreign Relations, where many students came to hear some new facts, and good news is that young generation looked at Ukraine positively, what is more, many of them really want to come with the purpose of education and further business activity. One of the last meeting points of my journey was The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs – the oldest think-tank of Pakistan, created in 1947, where I was welcomed by the Chairperson, a famous and respected lady – Dr. Masuma Hasan, former Cabinet Secretary and Ambassador of Pakistan. With her charm and extremely sharp sense of humor Dr.Masuma started the discussion, which sometimes reminded me an old Soviet times: one of the distinguished professors asked: “Why you did not want to continue with your socialism?” Anyway, to be seated with these respectful people, to present the vision of my country, to share some common ideas as well as my personal critics – it was my big privilege. My lectures always followed by sharp questions and productive discussions, that is why I can estimate the visit and communication with Pakistani colleagues as a room of special opportunity to know each other better. One of the fellows in PIIA told me: “You are a very good ambassador of your country!”
A feedback is coming, some results we immediately got, such as a proposal for bilateral collaboration with Ukrainian Institute from Iqra University and KCFR, and the invitation to participate at the Peace-making conference at Karachi University next November. And of course, I’m going to participate, if it will be possible, as one more target is still unfinished – to learn more about the peace-making processes in South Asia, to make some researches on conflict management experience. Next time I wish to put my own questions, to listen to my colleagues mostly and to provide some parallels which could be useful in my country.
One more thing to be mentioned here: I got a possibility to give a lot of interview to the most popular mass-media of Pakistan, among them GEO TV, The Express Tribune and Dawn news-papers – not because I am so good, but because people in Pakistan really wanted to know more about my country. And now, please, dream about the situation, when Ukrainian scholars can visit different countries and provide discussions about our motherland, its culture, history and politics – to be un-official ambassadors of the nation. Does it work? I would say – yes, people trust scholars more than officials, especially when they can feel that we are free in our estimations and considerations. It’s time to provide these visits, not only dream about them, I believe.
