Ancient civilizations, besides being centers of cultural origins, provided the diplomatic milieus where ideas, beliefs, styles and arts interlaced and intermingled with each other. These ancient civilizations provided avenues for the peaceful interaction of different cultures; enabled blending of artistic traditions; caused adaptation and evolution of philosophical enterprises; as well as triggered trade linkages, thus opening new vistas for integration of global ideas, constitution of identities, and emergence of mutually beneficial outcomes. This created a unique form of diplomatic practice that was conducted through openness and creativity. This is what we may term as civilizational syncretism, where diplomacy was pivoted on exchange of ideas; while pluralism was deemed a strategic guardrail. If we look at the annals of history, the ancient civilization that flourished in Taxila (Pakistan) offers a vivid manifestation of this civilizational syncretism.

 

Tracing its origins to around 3000 years ago, the ruins of Taxila are to be found today, to the northwest of Islamabad, the bustling and enterprising modern capital of Pakistan. However, ancient Taxila was once, a thriving and vibrant centre of Gandharan civilization that witnessed the rise and fall of regional powers around. It also served as the crucible of different cultures, getting meshed to form a unique civilizational experience. Starting from the Vedic era, Taxila moved on to witness the pinnacle of Buddhist civilization. Ancient Taxila also witnessed the vicissitudes of Persian, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Indo-Parthian, Kushan and Sassanian periods.

 

With its unique position at the terminus of South Asia and Central Asia, ancient Taxila was indeed the cultural capital of South Asia, at its zenith. The city was the centre of confluence of peoples, languages, cultures and ideas from different parts of the world. No wonder that the ancient city of Taxila took pride in hosting one of the very first universities in the world as well. The city also served as a trade hub on the royal highway of Uttarāpatha. Being the centre of Buddhist civilization, the city hosted monasteries with monks and teachers who travelled to the nearby regions, exchanging and spreading knowledge and ideas. In essence, ancient Taxila, being the regional economic, religious and cultural centre of its time, provided a unique opportunity for exchanges between peoples from different parts of the world.

 

Diplomacy thrived in ancient Taxila (in modern-day Pakistan) because of its unique geographic location at the major crossroads of long-distance trade. Taxila was located at the junction of the major trade routes of Uttarāpatha (northern highway from eastern South Asia through the Gangetic plain); route towards Central Asia via Hindu Kush; as well as towards western Asia via Bactria and Parthia. This led to trade and intellectual exchanges causing sharing of thoughts and ideas, as well as creation of immense wealth, thus necessitating diplomatic exchanges and linkages. These elements also demanded the maintenance of peaceful relations of ancient Taxila, with powerful regional empires and nomadic tribes simultaneously. Ancient Taxila was, therefore, the cosmopolitan hub that practiced sophisticated diplomacy to ensure endurance and prosperity.

 

As mentioned earlier, ancient Taxila experienced different Empires and political periods. It changed hands from Achaemenid Persians to Macedonians to Mauryans, Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythians, Indo-Parthians, Kushans and Sassanians. Each empire had its own unique influence on Taxila, demanding diplomatic interlace in its own peculiar manner, with the rest of the world, essentially pivoted on what we term today, as ‘peaceful co-existence’.

 

It would be useful to have a glance, as to how diplomatic practice evolved and functioned in the ancient city of Taxila. To begin with, the pragmatic Kings who ruled Taxila, pursued foreign policies towards their neighbors that contained the elements of peaceful coexistence, paying dividends in the form of mutual prosperity for both ancient Taxila and the neighboring powers.

 

Ancient Taxila also hosted embassies to engage with the outside world. Besides, the city also hosted prominent scholars of its time. This reflects that Ancient Taxila was already well versed in practicing educational diplomacy and linkages. For instance, Megasthenes (Seleucid Ambassador), Faxian, Xuanzang, and other Chinese pilgrims identified Taxila as the city where foreign emissaries, students and religious teachers were all welcomed. Students from around the known world of that time, travelled to Taxila to learn the art of negotiations. Soft power diplomacy was also employed by Taxila, through the Stūpas and monasteries as well as through Taxila’s reputation as a university city.

 

The confluence of South Asian, Persian, Hellenistic, Central Asian, Buddhist and Kushan socio-political and cultural experiences created a diverse society in ancient Taxila. This facilitated multicultural dialogue and understanding, based on non-aggression and tolerance for others. These aspects, therefore, emerged as the guiding principles of ancient Taxila’s diplomatic practice.

 

The entire geo-political environment around ancient Taxila, summarized above, fostered peaceful political exchanges and alliances; cultural and intellectual dialogue; as well as trade relations; that characterized the thriving art of diplomacy in ancient Taxila. In essence, diplomatic practice in ancient Taxila emerged as an organic outcome of the commercial, cultural, religious and educational interface between different neighboring regions, engaging with ancient Taxila. This is what enabled civilizational syncretism and founded the bedrock of one of the most ancient forms of diplomatic practice in Taxila. Negotiations and tolerance for budding rich ideas were the swivels of diplomacy in ancient Taxila. The blending of artistic designs and philosophical enterprises of the city, explored and deciphered today, depict that creativity and openness to ideas is what constituted the unique mode of diplomacy practiced in the ancient city of Taxila.

 

Being the heir country to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the foreign policy of Pakistan also reflects certain elements that are characteristic of the above-mentioned ancient traditions of diplomacy, developed and practiced in ancient Taxila. The foreign policy of Pakistan is focused on the pursuit of peace and stability through international cooperation. It puts emphasis on economic diplomacy for facing the challenges of the 21st century. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States; non-interference in the internal affairs of other States; non-aggression and peaceful settlement of disputes are the hallmarks of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Accordingly, Pakistan has always sought to develop friendly and cordial relations with all countries of the world. One could clearly observe that while the above elements are deemed to be internationally recognized norms of interstate relations today, the ancient city of Taxila, was already practicing these aspects of inter-state relations, thousands of years ago. These concepts of peaceful co-existence, tolerance and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, were therefore embedded in the intellectual roots of the people and society of Pakistan, since ages. Being the heirs to the rich civilization that flourished and thrived in ancient Taxila, Pakistanis today continue to inspire the world with the same ideas of peaceful co-existence, while practice the art of diplomacy, rooted in promotion of peace and prosperity across the world. These elements of Pakistan’s foreign policy are traceable to the ancient form of diplomacy, pivoted on ‘civilizational syncretism’, that once thrived in ancient Taxila.

 

Charge d’ Affaires a.i., Embassy of Pakistan in Amman