Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev has said that Mughal Emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur was not only a statesman and military leader but also a poet, writer, thinker and keen observer of nature and society, whose legacy continues to connect Central and South Asia.
He was speaking at a roundtable conference titled “Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur: A Shared Civilizational Legacy and a Bridge for Pak-Uzbek Relations,” organized by the Baburi Forum here.
The ambassador said Babur’s literary masterpiece, Baburnama, remains one of the most valuable autobiographical and historical works of the medieval Muslim world, offering an exceptional account of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
“At the heart of this shared historical narrative stands Zahiruddin Babur, a son of Andijan in present-day Uzbekistan, whose extraordinary life connected Central Asia with South Asia in an unprecedented way,” he said.
The event was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for National Heritage and Culture Farah Naz Akbar, Deputy Chairman of the Babur International Public Foundation Rustam Mamasoliev, President of the Baburi Forum Ramzan Mughal, as well as scholars, historians and researchers from Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
The ambassador welcomed the delegation of historians and scholars from Uzbekistan and expressed appreciation for their participation in the gathering, saying such exchanges could further strengthen the cultural and intellectual ties between the two countries.
“For Pakistan, Babur and his heritage represent an important part of the country’s rich civilizational history. For Uzbekistan, Babur remains an important symbol of our nation’s contribution to world history and culture,” Tukhtaev said.
He stressed that Babur belonged to both nations not merely as a historical personality but as a shared civilizational legacy that continues to connect their peoples.
According to him, the legacy of the Baburids left an enduring imprint on architecture, literature, art, governance, science and culture in South Asia. Their contributions, he added, continue to influence the cultural landscape of Pakistan and the wider region.
“Our common heritage, however, is broader than the legacy of one dynasty or a historical period. It encompasses centuries of interaction between Central and South Asia, including shared traditions of scholarship, literature, spirituality, architecture and trade,” the ambassador said.
He described such scholarly gatherings as important platforms for not only studying history but also understanding how the past could serve as a foundation for friendship and cooperation in the present.
Tukhtaev also appreciated the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to preserve, promote and share the common historical and cultural heritage of the two countries, including the legacy of Babur and the Baburid period.
He said relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan were rooted in centuries of interaction, intellectual exchange, cultural affinity and human connections and went far beyond modern diplomatic ties.
“Today, the relationship between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is entering a new and dynamic stage,” he said, noting the role of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in giving new momentum to bilateral relations.
The ambassador said regular high-level contacts, mutual visits and close political dialogue had created a strong foundation for expanding cooperation in trade and investment, transport and connectivity, education, science, culture, tourism and people-to-people contacts.
He said the elevation of bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership reflected the depth of mutual trust and the shared vision of the two countries for a stronger and more comprehensive relationship.
“In this context, common historical heritage is not simply a matter of the past. It is an important asset for the future,” Tukhtaev said.
He observed that the story of Babur demonstrated that Central and South Asia had never been isolated worlds but had always been connected through people, ideas, culture and history.
“Today, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have an opportunity to give this historical connection a new meaning by transforming our shared heritage into new opportunities for academic cooperation, joint research, cultural exchanges, tourism engagement and educational partnerships,” he said.
The ambassador expressed confidence that historians, scholars and cultural institutions from both countries could play a particularly important role in promoting these initiatives.
“Babur’s life began in Andijan and eventually brought him to the Indian subcontinent. Centuries later, the historical journey that once connected our regions has evolved into a modern partnership between two sovereign and friendly states,” he said.
“In this sense, Babur is not only a figure of our shared past; he can also be a bridge to our shared future,” Tukhtaev added.
He called for continued joint efforts to study, preserve and promote Babur’s legacy so that future generations of Uzbekistan and Pakistan could understand the depth of their intertwined histories and civilizations.
He also thanked Ramzan Mughal for bringing together scholars and admirers of Babur’s legacy and expressed appreciation to Farah Naz Akbar for attending the event.
Speaking on the occasion, President of the Baburi Forum Ramzan Mughal said the forum was an intellectual and literary platform dedicated to literature and research and aimed at narrowing cultural and civilizational gaps between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
He said the forum sought to play the role of a catalyst in bringing modern Uzbekistan and Pakistan closer through their shared cultural and historical heritage.
“We want to transfer this civilizational and cultural heritage to our youth and introduce them to our common literature, poetry and scholars who form part of the common history of both sides, so that they can reconnect with their historical roots,” Mughal said.
The conference concluded with a renewed emphasis on strengthening scholarly, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and using the shared legacy of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur as a foundation for closer ties between the two brotherly nations.
