Kathmandu, 25 December: Lahore Centre of South Asian Studies (LCSAS), held a webinar on 18 December on the theme “Historical and Cultural Linkages between Pakistan and Nepal” to discuss possible arenas which both countries can utilize to enhance centuries-old relations between both countries.
Nepali speakers, Professor Om Charan Amatya and Retired Brigadier General Suresh Sharma and Pakistani speakers, Doctor Atif Khalid Butt and Doctor Ghazala Tabassum highlighted friendly relations between both countries which are based on mutual trust, respect to sovereignty and non-interference and emphasized to enhance these relations through various ways and means.
While speaking, Dr. Atif Khalid Butt expressed that Pakistan and Nepal are physically apart but are linked geo-culturally as both share the Himalayan range and belong to the same language family of Indo-Aryan languages. Retired Brigadier General Suresh Sharma highlighted that the People of Pakistan have admirable valves and are peace-loving people. The recruitment of Gorkhas in the British Army has made Lahore a part of Nepalese vocabulary as it was here that Gorkhas used to go for induction and were called Lahure in the Nepalese language. Ever since this term was later used for all Gorkhas who are recruited in Foreign armies. Taxila is also a reference of similarity. The great Buddhist civilisation has its markers there to which the Nepalese people can relate.
Dr. Ghazala Tabassum discussed the cross lines of history and culture that provide similarities between Women of Pakistan and Nepal. She termed as “shifting of horizons” the changes that are gradually being seen with regard to the wellbeing of the feminine gender. These changes have been brought both through the measures and legislation undertaken by respective governments as well as the setting of personal examples by outstanding ladies in various fields including Politics, Science and even the Armed Forces.
While speaking at the event, Om Charan Amatya highlighted Buddhist heritage linkages between the two countries and referred to Padmasambhava’s stay in Kathmandu’s vicinity. He further emphasized the need for air link’s restoration between Kathmandu and Karachi. Also mentioned that Pakistan TV serials were quite popular in Nepal’s middle-class families.
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