By Amjad Qaimkhani
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has highlighted its deep and enduring connection with Buddhism, noting that monks, scholars and visitors from Buddhist countries continue to travel to Pakistan throughout the year to visit historic Buddhist sites, including Taxila, Swat and Takht-e-Bahi.
Speaking at the commemoration of the International Day of Vesak 2026, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, said these visits reflected not only a shared spiritual and cultural heritage, but also the warmth, respect and friendship that characterized Pakistan’s ties with Buddhist communities around the world.
Ambassador Asim extended greetings to followers of the Buddhist faith and all those marking Vesak, and thanked the Permanent Missions of Sri Lanka and Thailand for organizing the event.
He said Vesak Day reminded the international community of the Buddha’s journey towards enlightenment and his enduring message of mindfulness, peace, compassion and love. At a time when the world faces conflict, division and spiritual uncertainty, he noted that the relevance of that message had only grown stronger.
The Permanent Representative recalled that Buddhism’s connection with Pakistan is both celebrated and enduring, rooted in the ancient land of Gandhara, where Buddhist thought, art and spirituality once flourished. He said the legacy of Buddhist Gandhara remains woven into Pakistan’s socio-cultural fabric and continues to shape the country’s pluralistic outlook.
He emphasized that this heritage also strengthens Pakistan’s advocacy for interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence, including through the UN General Assembly resolution on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, jointly tabled by the Philippines and Pakistan.
He concluded by reaffirming that Buddhism represents a shared heritage and that Pakistan would continue working with the international community to promote Buddha’s universal message of peace, harmony and tranquillity.
