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Young South Asian leaders affirm to establish a better-connected, more secure region Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islamabad
More than 150 alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchanged programs gathered in Islamabad for the opening ceremony of a three-day International Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference.
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) co-sponsored the event, which brought together alumni from across Pakistan and South Asia to share strategies for local and regional peace-building.
Senator Sherry Rehman, former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, and U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Pratt addressed to the participants on the opening day of the conference
Speaking about importance of cooperation between people and governments to fight terrorism and encourage peace, Senator Rehman said: “We need now, more than ever, to privilege dialogue and diplomacy over distrust and denial.”
“Foreign policy is an instrument that people and societies can impact and influence” said Senator Rehman, an alumna of the International Visitors Leadership Program.
DCM Pratt reaffirmed U.S. support for Pakistani and South Asian initiatives to enhance regional connectivity, including the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000). Pratt emphasized the importance of building networks and relationships throughout South Asia, and praised PUAN for its work in this regard by holding the conference. “PUAN is a vibrant community that helps in building a peaceful Pakistan,” he said.
“To establish a better-connected, more secure region, people-to-people connections are vital.”
The opening ceremony kicked off three days of workshops, panels, community service activities, and cultural events on the theme of peace and conflict resolution. U.S. government exchange alumni and outside experts from a range of fields exchanged best practices on building peaceful communities through dialogue, economic integration, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, the arts, and other mediums.
The United States invests $40 million annually on exchange programs for Pakistani citizens and sends more than 1,300 Pakistanis to the United States each year to participate in academic and professional programs. PUAN is an alumni network of individuals who have participated in such exchange programs. With more than 15,000 alumni across Pakistan, PUAN is one of the largest alumni networks in the world.
To find out more about PUAN and the conference, visit PUAN Facebook page.
The participants made a lot of buzz on social media with the hashtag #PUAN4Peace
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“We don’t have oil, but we have human capital”, says @Mushahid at #PUAN4PEACE #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/mu6iDzOMjz
— Usman Latif (@usman_latif) November 27, 2015
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Chief Guest @sherryrehman speaking at the opening ceremony of #PUAN4PEACE Conference @pakusalumni @usembislamabad pic.twitter.com/J94JZqtcgS — SherryRehman’sOffice (@SRehmanOffice) November 27, 2015
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#Featured: DCM Jonathan Pratt, @sherryrehman w/ officials from @USEFP @usembislamabad & @PakUSAlumni #PUAN4PEACE pic.twitter.com/svCNClVPFf
— Rimsha (@rimshaas) November 27, 2015