Pak ready to help create South, Central Asia linkages: Aziz

Pakistan today said that it was ready to play its role in creating linkages between South and Central Asia to promote regional peace and development.
"Pakistan is prepared to play its role in creating new linkages, strengthening the existing ones and help trigger a movement for sustainable peace and development in the region and beyond," Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said during an address at the 'Ancient Pakistan' exhibition organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said that ancient Pakistan was a fascinating study of how diverse cultures, languages, social and belief systems interacted to produce a common identity.

"This, today, is our national identity. With this national identity, geography makes Pakistan as much a part of South Asia as Central Asia," he further said.
The top diplomat said the exhibition was not merely a display of artifacts and antiquities but a narration of history of an ancient people who inhabited the meadows, fields, mountains, deserts, hills and valleys of this country.
The ingenuity of the people left indelible marks on human civilisation in this part of the world, he said.

Aziz said Pakistan is known as the 'Gift of Indus' whose tributaries have nourished life throughout this region.

"The ancient sources of Pakistan's culture and civilisation have created a cultural empathy between Pakistan and other countries of Central, South, and East Asia. This link has to be strengthened and transformed through greater regional connectivity, speedy resolution of disputes and closer people to people contacts," he said.
He also mentioned the ancient settlements of Mehrgarh in Balochistan, Moenjodaro in Sindh, Harappa in Punjab and Gandhara in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which are considered treasured heritage of Pakistan.