Pakistan and US foster cultural ties

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Pak-US
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, with Head of the Institute’s Asian Cultural History Program, Dr. Paul Michael Taylor.

Washington, 16 July 2022 (TDI): On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of US-Pak diplomatic ties, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Masood Khan, met with Dr. Paul Michael Taylor, Head of the Smithsonian Institute’s Institute’s Asian Cultural History Program.

According to him, the existing cultural affinities served as a base for fostering understanding between the two countries.

The ambassador made these statements during a conversation with Dr. Paul Michael Taylor. The latter is currently the director of the esteemed Smithsonian Institute’s Asian Cultural History Program.

During the meeting, the ambassador emphasized the significance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges in strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States in light of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

He added that through such exchanges, people from both countries might have a greater understanding of each other’s perspectives and cultures.

Further, the ambassador declared that the Embassy was keen to cooperate with the Smithsonian Institute in various cultural fields. It will encourage bilateral exchanges and planning activities to boost the rich culture of Pakistan in the United States.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the US, he invited the Smithsonian Institute to work with the Embassy. In addition, Dr. Taylor welcomed the idea and expressed his interest in collaborating with the Embassy to mark this significant milestone.

Dr. Taylor’s Statement

On his part, Dr. Taylor informed the ambassador about the extensive collection on Pakistan, notably Kashmir, kept by the Smithsonian Asian Cultural History Program. He claimed to have visited Pakistan frequently and expressed interest in contributing to the region’s rich cultural heritage.

In addition, he also discussed his ongoing partnerships with the International Resource Centre (IRC) and Maati TV in Lahore on several initiatives promoting the local production of films in Central and South Punjab. He also shared his early work with Lok Virsa on a multi-year museum and archival capacity-building project.

Dr. Taylor also discussed the numerous fellowships and research opportunities for graduate, pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students offered by the Smithsonian Institute. He said he looked forward to seeing more participation from Pakistani students in these programs.