“If France and Germany, two neighbouring countries with a bitter history, have become the best of friends through the 1963 Treaty of Elysee, why can’t Pakistan and India do the same?” questioned the German consul-general.
KARACHI:
Several students of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) were seen heading towards the newly-built Alumni Student Centre building to learn key history lessons from French and German consul-generals on Wednesday morning.
“If France and Germany, two neighbouring countries with a bitter history, have become the best of friends through the 1963 Treaty of Elysee, why can’t Pakistan and India do the same?” questioned the German consul-general, Dr Tilo Klinner, as the crowd of mostly social sciences and business students listened.
“After years of aggression and retaliation, the countries now boast of a porous border, twin cities, towns and student exchange programmes,” added the diplomat.
The glaring similarity between the Franco-German tiff in the past and the Pak-India distrust today invited discussion and queries from faculty members and students alike. The history of France and Germany, as indicated through a presentation by the IBA Social Science Club members, was marred by opposing stories of territorial claims, conspiracies and bloodshed.
Dr Klinner believed that France and Germany struck such a friendship following a tumultuous history through the integrated teachings of history. “If two countries want to be friends, it is important that they have the same interpretation of facts, which is why French and German scholars sat down to write a common history textbook for students in France and Germany, with the same maps and diagrams.” Pakistan and India will need to have to unite on this level if they desire peace, he added.
IBA Social Science Club patron and historian Dr Nomanul Haq said, “As of now, people in Pakistan and India interpret historical facts very differently. For instance, Mughal emperor Akbar is a hero in India while in Pakistan he is not a very celebrated figure.”
“The French prime minister now has a German adviser,” pitched in French consul-general Dr Christian Ramage. Moreover, Dr Ramage pointed out at the picture of a pub at the Franco-German border, which had been a military check-post in troubled times, almost a century ago.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th,2013.
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