Pakistan Now Embracing Buddhist Heritage, Excluding India

Photo: @history_pak1

ISLAMABAD, (IANS) – Pakistan is holding an international Gandhara Symposium.

The three-day Gandhara Symposium 2023 titled “Cultural Diplomacy: Reviving Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan” was attended by diplomats, foreign delegations from China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, and Vietnam, tourism promoters, and inter-faith experts.

Buddhism is now a bone of soft diplomacy in the region. India has been open about its relations with the Dalai Lama and reaching out to Mongolia. It was not invited by Pakistan to the three day meet.

According to organizers, the event aims to offer opportunities to explore Pakistan’s rich Buddhist legacy and create an enabling environment for Gandhara tourism, Chinese media reported.

Pakistani officials highlighted the core traits of the Gandhara civilization and said Pakistan could be an informative place for visitors from across the globe to explore attractive Buddhist sites.