RUSSIA – PAKISTAN:
SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL POTENTIAL OF MUTUAL COOPERATION

Irina Serenko*

It is a well-known fact, that contemporary formation of a universal social space in our globalized world is based on the main principle of its unity in diversity. Thus, dialogue and partnership of all members of the international community become a must for its successful construction in our interdependent and interconnected world aspiring harmony and stability. The UN General Assembly Resolution on the Dialogue among Civilizations (09.11.2001) and UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity (02.11.2001) provide people an opportunity to discover not only their differences but also what they have in common. The dialogue among civilizations and cultures seeks to ensure that global approaches receive regional attention to get the balance between global and regional perspectives and actions. Today’s Russia (the principal successor of the former Soviet Union) and Pakistan also have joined this process of multilateral intercultural dialogue. And though their relations in the past (due to the then superpower handling, world bipolarity and confrontation) were mainly marked by their mutual mistrust and hostility both of them still managed to have some positive experience in bilateral relations. First of all, it is connected with the Soy jet-Pakistan and thereafter with the Russia-Pakistan economic cooperation (specially in the field of energy, metallurgy and trade).1 But bilateral contacts in the field of science, education and culture were regrettably minimized at that time.2
Meanwhile, nowadays specially these contacts may not only effectively enhance Russia-Pakistan cooperation in all other spheres, but also include both states in the process of intercultural dialogue which became an imperative for the whole mankind in the contemporary fight against international terrorism, so as to achieve peace and stability in the world.
The record of history shows, that at the very outset the newly-born independent Pakistan though established diplomatic relations with the USSR (1948) was nevertheless totally oriented on the cooperation with the West, first of all, with USA — the principal Cold War adversary of the Soviet Union. With this in view, the Soviet Union responded by strengthening its position in the South Asian region through cooperation with the main Pakistani adversaries — India and Afghanistan which had territorial disputes with Pakistan. The last has soon recognized the lost opportunities from strategic over-reliance on the distant United States and alienation from the neighboring Soviet Union which mostly influenced the situation in South Asia. Resultantly, Pakistan tried to make up for these wasted opportunities.3
Some cooling off in the US-Pakistan relations at the early 1960-s gave Pakistan an opportunity to improve its relations with the Soviet Union. During this period of a thaw between USSR and Pakistan (1960-1970), according to the well-known American scholar Hafeez Mahik (Pakistani by origin), both countries enjoyed “emergence of realistic relationship”.4 Both countries began the process of establishing not only bilateral trade and economic ties, but social and cultural contacts as well.
This period was marked by a substantial interest to the Pakistani history, economy, culture and languages among the Soviet people. Such subjects, as Urdu language and Literature were introduced at the Oriental departments of some Soviet universities and institutes: Institute of Asian and African States at the Moscow University, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Leningrad State University, etc. Actually, it demonstrated the USSR intentions to establish long-term and sustainable relations with Pakistan.
The Soviet Union also began to render assistance to Pakistan in vocational education. Thus, within the framework of the bilateral agreement on economic and technical cooperation in the field of geological prospecting signed in 1961 the Soviet counterpart took obligations of Pakistani experts training. Later on, in 1968 after signing the agreement on construction and financing of Pakistan Still Mill in Karachi the Soviet Union assisted Pakistan not only in setting up its national metallurgy, but also in vocational training of qualified personnel in this field. At Karachi Still Mill Training Centre established with the assistance of USSR and UN International Labor Organization nearly 1500 students got annual vocational training on 78 specialties connected with metallurgic construction and operation.6 Thanks to this, Pakistan practically eliminated its dependence on foreign experts in metallurgic industry.
Being on an official mission to Pakistan at that time (1983-84) 1 also participated in the implementation of this joint Soviet-Pakistan project which even nowadays comes to be the most powerful metallurgic complex in Pakistan. It played a great role in developing mutual understanding and interaction between people of two countries and still remains the main symbol of fruitful, mutually beneficial Russia-Pakistan cooperation.
Signing of the first bilateral cultural agreement in 1965 (Rawalpindi) also paved the way for the establishment of harmonious relations on human level. Thus, the Soviet-Pakistan Friendship Society was founded in Moscow in 1966. All activities of this officially recognized organization served for promotion of mutual understanding and friendship, enhancing multidimensional cooperation and trust between people of two countries through their acknowledgment with the history, culture, economy and life style of each other. The Society of Pakistan-Soviet Cultural Ties has been accordingly found in Pakistan. It was headed by the famous Pakistani historian, writer and public figure Pir Hussamuddin Rashidi (1911-1982). Both societies annually celebrated various National holidays and dates, such as the Soviet Union’s October Revolution Day (November, 7th) and Pakistan’s Independence Day (August, 14th). Famous scholars, artists, journalists and intellectuals of two countries formed the nuclear of the societies.
Scholars of the Pakistan Studies Centre (established in 1964) from the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Y. Gankovsky —Vice-President, and later, - President of the USSR-Pakistan Society V. N. Moskalenko, V. Y. Belokrenitsky, S. N. Kamenev, etc.) headed activities of the Soviet-Pakistan Friendship Society. Together with scholars from other Institute departments they (especially, L. R. Gordon-Polonskaya, R. M. Mukimdjanova, etc.) undertook various scientific research and studies on Pakistani history, politics, economy. Besides, they actively participated in training experts on Pakistan.
Scholars from the Oriental Literature department of the above said Institute conducted their research on the Pakistani languages, literature, philosophy and culture. They translated a lot of works of the Pakistani writers, poets and philosophers (M. Iqbal, F. A. Faiz, S. H. Manto, H. Jalandhri, A. N. Qasmi, H. Shanwari, etc.) into the Russian language.7 So as to bring Pakistani people closer to the Russian classical literature they also translated the most famous works of L. Tolstoy, A. Chekhov, M. Gorky, etc. into Urdu and other languages of Pakistan. The Pakistan studies were conducted at other training and research institutions of Moscow (Institute of Ethnology, Institute of Philosophy, Institute of Geography, etc.). Some Oriental Centers on Pakistan studies were also founded in other cities of the Soviet Union (Leningrad, Saratov, Tashkent, Dushanbe, Samarkand, Kokand, Baku, etc.).
Signing the bilateral agreement on scientific, technical and cultural cooperation in 1968 intensified contacts of the Soviet and Pakistani scholars, journalists and artists. Thanks to this, the first ever Russian professor came to the Peshawar University to teach the Pakistani students in the Russian language. In 1973 the Russian department was established at Islamabad Institute of Modern Languages. It is, as well, symbolic, that scientific achievements of an outstanding Pakistani scholar Abdus Salam (1926-1996) were highly estimated by his Soviet colleagues and in 1971 he became a Foreign Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences in the field of nuclear physics. Scholars from both countries had started their joint research and projects on nuclear energy peaceful usage since 1970 in accordance with the bilateral agreement between the USSR State Atomic Committee and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (1970-1980).
There were also signs of extending bilateral cultural relations. Several times Pakistan participated at Moscow and Tashkent international Film Festivals. For the first time the Pakistan National Ensemble of Folk Songs, Dance and Music (founded in 1971) came to USSR with the performances in 1974. Accordingly, the Soviet Folk Ensemble, Puppet Theatre and Circus came to Pakistan.
At those days started to develop twin cities contacts. Thus, in 1976 the capital of the Tajik Soviet Republic—Dushanbe and the administrative center of Punjab province — Lahore became twin cities. In the framework of joint educational programs on bilateral cooperation (1976-1981) there was annual exchange of students and professors between the Tajikistan State University and Punjab University.
It is necessary to note, that the Soviet side rendered assistance to Pakistan in training engineers, doctors, economists, lawyers, teachers of Russian language and literature, physicist and other highly qualified specialists. Pakistani students got free higher education in the Soviet Union. By 1979, more than 300 students from Pakistan were enrolled in the Soviet institutes of higher learning.8
Unfortunately, this process of initial humanitarian interaction and cooperation was restrained by the growing international tension and the Soviet troops involvement in the Afghan conflict (1979). Pakistan was also involved in the epicenter of superpowers confrontation. Taken traditionally a pro-American stance Pakistan actually undermined its fragile relations with the USSR.
Despite all this, some big joint projects started earlier were not suspended. Both partners continued its completion even during the Martial Law in Pakistan (1977-1988). Take, for example, the construction and operation of the above mentioned Karachi Still Mill. During this period of the lowest point in our bilateral relations not only business, but also cultural contacts between the Soviet experts and Pakistani people did not stop. There were joint gatherings, exhibitions and performances devoted to the national holidays and dates of both states at the Cultural Centre of Still Mill Township, though, perhaps, much more rare than previously.
Only after the Martial Law abolition (1988) and the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan (1989) with the Cold War over there were an excellent opportunity for both countries to improve bilateral relations. But after USSR dissolution (1991) Pakistan general approach to Russia based mainly on Cold War mindset did not allow to take advantage from it. A short-term official visit of Pakistani Prime-Minister to Russia in April 1999 could not unfreeze bilateral relations and turn it from the level of stagnation.
Meanwhile, even in those days the Russian and Pakistani elite, scholars and diplomats continued their attempts to define the new ways for the establishment of bilateral dialogue, so as to develop stable and fruitful ties with each other. Thus problems of bilateral relations in the context of the new geo-strategic realities in the South Asian region and in the world as a whole were under discussion at several Moscow International conferences and seminars (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998).
Participants of these International forums were all preoccupied not only with the necessity to expand bilateral political and economic relations, but to find out opportunities for cooperation in science, culture and education. To develop Pakistani technological capability the Russian side, in particular, constantly proposed assistance in training engineers in the field of High Technologies on the base of several Russian technical institutes previously closed for foreign students. There were also suggestions to develop cooperation in humanitarian areas, first of all in oriental studies.9The then Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the Russian Federation Tanvir Ahmad Khan (1994-1997) highly estimated the efforts of the Russian orientalists and experts on Pakistan aimed at the development of multidimensional relations between our two countries and used to appeal for greater intellectual collaboration, so as to lift “the mist of mutual incomprehension left behind by the cold war”.10
Signing bilateral agreement on scientific, technical and cultural cooperation in 1997 (its draft has been worked out much more earlier, in 1994 during Pakistan Foreign Minister official visit to Russia) intensified mutual contacts in these areas. Space communications and technologies became the subjects of joint projects.11
In 1997 the Pakistan Friends Association (successor of the USSR-Pakistan Society) together with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan arranged a special program to celebrate the 50-thanniversary of Pakistan creation. As a result, the first-ever Encyclopedia on Pakistan was published in Russian (its Pakistani version edited by Y.V. Gankovsky and Hafeez Malik has been published recently, in 2006). Thanks to this, the Russian people got an opportunity to learn a lot about this young Muslim state, as it covers all spheres of political, socio-economic and cultural life of the Pakistani people.’2 It is worth mentioning here the publication of some other books devoted to the founder of Pakistan—M. A. Jinnah (1876-l948).13
Unfortunately, the bilateral agreement on scientific and cultural cooperation (1997) has been implemented only partially, thus preventing the possibility “to build strong bridges and to come closer” towards each other.14
The global threat of international terrorism at the early XXI century united the whole mankind against this main menace to humanity. Russia and Pakistan also joined international coalition against terrorism. It simultaneously encouraged establishment of bilateral interaction in political, economic and humanitarian areas.
The first official visit to Russia by a Pakistani Head of State in February, 2003 returned both countries on the previously lost way of establishing “realistic relationship” between each other. President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf at his final press conference in Moscow underlined, that “the new era of friendship” between Russia and Pakistan began and for its further development both states should take from the past all positive experience and bury all bitter ones.15
Recent adoption of the Program for bilateral cooperation in science, culture and education (2003-2006) paved the way for enhancing people-to-people contacts, mutual understanding and interaction between two countries. Practical implementation of this program promoted cooperation between Science Academies of both countries, Russia and Pakistan Ministries of Education and Culture.16 Academic, scientific and cultural exchange and joint projects gradually -become a reality of contemporary bilateral relations feed by not properly used earlier rich resources of human capital and people diplomacy capable to overcome negative perceptions and prejudice of the past.
More importantly for developing a real intercultural and humanitarian dialogue between Russia and Pakistan is such a new social phenomenon as the Russian-Pakistani inter-marriage families. One can even find its literary definition in the poem “Pakistan and Russia”, written by the Russian poetess L. Avdeeva who has been working at the Karachi House of Friendship for a long period of time (l993-l998).17 She was a teacher of Russian for the Pakistani students at that time.
Without a fear of contradiction we may say, that the growing-up generation of these intermarriages having simultaneously the Russian and Pakistani roots represents a kind of an intercultural mediator in establishing Russia-Pakistan long-term interstate dialogue. In fact, the socio-cultural world of metis parents defines the mindset and life style of their children based on cross of various creeds and cultures. And even despite some difficulties in their socialization and self-identification metises undoubtedly may be considered as an effective mean of strengthening not only mutual understanding and interaction between the Russian and Pakistani people but bilateral interstate cooperation on the whole perimeter of Russia-Pakistan relationship.18
The Russian Prime-Minister M. Fradkov impending official visit to Pakistan (the first in 38 years) must be used by both sides for recasting terms and priorities of bilateral cooperation with the accent on not only boosting political, economic and trade activities, but humanitarian interaction between people of our two countries as well. In view of the existing favorable opportunities for the development of multidimensional dialogue and cooperation between Russia and Pakistan it is mostly important to use all available scientific, educational and cultural potential of both states based on tremendous resources of human capital which may speed up the emergence of interstate friendship and partnership, as well as their smooth integration in the global social space.
Thus, it is necessary to rely upon positive experience of humanitarian cooperation between our countries in the past and simultaneously to find out new forms of bilateral interaction in this area. We may take into account, for example, the following suggestions on the above said:

• Establishment of the Russian-Pakistan analytical centre for working out concrete estimations and recommendations based on joint scientific research for the government, trade, economic and social structures of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in formulating their strategies and activities on different aspects of bilateral cooperation;
• Revitalizing activities of both countries Friendship Societies for brining Russian and Pakistani people closer to each other;
• Enhancing people-to-people contacts in the field of education, science, culture, tourism and sport through means of mass communication and information as well as through Governmental and Non-Governmental organizations (Association of Pakistani Graduates Russia and CIS, Association of the Pakistani Businessmen, Youth, Religious and Female organizations of both countries, etc.)

It will help to develop Russia-Pakistan relationship on a new level of meaningful dialogue and partnership.

References

1.     Among numerous works on the Soviet-Pakistan & Russia-Pakistan relations (mostly in Russian) it is worth mentioning the books of the following authors: Kompantsev I.M. Pakistan & the Soviet Union. M., 1970; Zhmuida I.V. International economic relations of Pakistan. M., 1981, PP. 143-148; The USSR and Pakistan (ed. I.V.Halevinsky). M., 1984, 224 p.; Yakunin V. To understand the partner. I/Asia and Africa today. No 8. M., 1997, pp. 48-51; Belokrenitsky V.Y. Russia-Pakistan relations in the context of the new situation in the region //The Contemporary Middle East, No 19, M., 2003, pp.188-199; Kamenev S.N. Russia-Pakistan economic relations //Pakistan in the Contemporary World. M., 2006, pp. 71-107; Shah Nawaz. Pakistan-Russia relations: general tendencies, main hindrances and prospects //Op cit., pp. 108-117; Rudnitsky A.Y. On the aspect of Russian approaches to the relations between India and Pakistan //Op. cit., pp. 118-130; Ramzan Ali. Pakistan-Russia relations: economic dimensions //Op. cit., pp. 13 1-161, etc.
2.     Some aspects of bilateral socio-cultural cooperation are partially considered in the following works of the Russian orientalists: The USSR and Pakistan. Op. cit., pp. 195-2 14; Vasilyeva L.A. Urdu poetry of Pakistan in the Russian context //Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948). M., 1996, pp. 75-81; Suchocheov A.S. Faiz Ahmad Faiz on the Pakistani culture problems //Op. cit., pp. 97-107; Gankovsky Y.V. The Centenary Birth Anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the Pakistan Studies in USSR I/The Bulletin of Orientalists’ Society. No 11: M. A. Jinnah, Pakistan, domestic Pakistan Studies. M., 2002, pp.79-82.
3.     For detailed analysis of the evolution of the Pakistan-Russia relations see: Iqbal W. Pakistan-Russia Relations II Pakistan, the States of South Asia and Middle East. Collection of Articles in Memoriam of Prof Yuri V.Gankovsky. M., 2004, pp. 87-97.
4.     Hafeez Malik. Pakistan’s Troubled Relations with the Soviet Union //Domestic Determinants of Soviet Foreign Policy towards South Asia and the Middle East. London, 1990, p. 170.
5.     For more detailed see: Kamenev S.N. Op. cit., pp. 75-77.
6.     About vocational training experience at the Training Centre of Karachi Still Mill see: Serenko I.N. Education System in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. M., 2006.
7.     For more details see: Belokrenitsky V.Y., Moskalenko V.N. A Glimpse on the Development of Domestic Pakistanology //The Bulletin of the Orientalists’ Society. No 11. M., 2002, pp. 89-97.
8.     Hafeez Malik. Op. cit., p. 173.
9.     See, for example: Gankovsky Y.V. International conference devoted to the problems of Russia-Pakistan relations //Orient. No 6. M, 1992, pp. 146-147; Gankovsky Y.V., Veselov V.T. International conference “Russia ­Pakistan relations” //Orient. No 1. M., 1996, pp. 152-153; Serenko I.N. International seminar “Pakistan and South Asia on a threshold of XXI century” //Orient. No 4. M., 1998, p.176.
10.   Tanvir Ahmad Khan. Russian Orientalism.—The News. Islamabad, 27.08.97, p. 7.
11.   On the subject of Russian-Pakistan cooperation in space exploration see detailed: Kamenev S.N. Op. cit., pp. 90-92; Shah Navaz. Op. cit., pp.113-114.
12.   For more information on the 50-th anniversary of Pakistan creation see: Belokrenitsky V.Y., Moskalenko V.N. 013. cit., pp. 93-97.
13.   The Encyclopedia of Pakistan led. Hafeez Malic and Yuri Y.Gankovsky/. Oxford University Press, 2006, pp 432; Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948). M., 1996, 110 p.; S Wolpert. Jinnah — the Creator of Pakistan (translated from English into Russian by Skorodenko V., Malakhova V.). M., 1997, 480 p.
14.   Walid Iqbal. The Road Ahead. —The Nation. Islamabad, 02.02.03, p.1, 10.
15.   Final press conference of the Pakistani President P. Musharraf took place on February 6th, 2003 in Moscow. Russian scholars from the Institute of Oriental Studies, including the author of this paper, were also invited for it. For final press conference see also:- The Moscow Times. Moscow, 07.02.2003.
16.   See also: Kamenev S.N. Op. cit., pp 100-102; Shah Navaz. Op. cit., pp. 115-116.
17.   Avdeeva L.E. Wind of Wanderings (Verses from the Pakistani Note-book) from East Kaleidoscope. M., 2004, 29 p.
18.   According to data of the Pakistan Embassy in the Russian Federation, the Pakistani community in RE is not large. It is basically represented by the Pakistani businessmen graduated from the Soviet/Russian institutes of higher learning and consisted in inter-marriages with the Russian citizens. The Pakistani community in RF totals almost 1000 persons. Practically half of them live in the Russian capital — Moscow. These data have been announced by A. Ejaz - the Press-secretary of IRP Embassy in RF on the solemn evening at Moscow House of Nationalities devoted to. religious holiday Eid-ul-Fitr when the Pakistani community for the first time has been officially accepted in multinational community of the Russian capital and became its full, 67-th member (on October, 24th, 2006).