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Book Launching
Ceremony for 'Strategy, Diplomacy, Humanity' at AKU
 On
June 2, 2005, Aga Khan University (AKU) proudly hosted the introduction
ceremony of the recently published book Strategy, Diplomacy,
Humanity on the life and work of Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan, former
foreign minister of Pakistan and the founding chairman of AKU Board
of Trustees, which he chaired for almost two decades until his retirement
in 2001.
AKU hosted this
ceremony as part of its multidisciplinary and broad-based approach
to education which aims to enrich students' understanding of the
humanities and social sciences. The general public also benefits
from such interaction with scholars and other personalities of national
and international repute.
Compiled and
edited by Dr Anwar Dil, the book Strategy, Diplomacy, Humanity
contains Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan's selected writings, with photos
spanning his entire life, culled from his lectures, articles and
speeches between 1980s and the present day. They describe his thoughts
on national strategy, diplomacy, world affairs, education and his
vision of a world of dialogue and peace for all of humanity. In
the foreword, Shaharyar M. Khan, former foreign secretary of Pakistan,
describes the book as "essential reading for the student of modern
history, diplomatic strategy, and the art and craft of negotiations.
They reflect the outpourings of a brilliant analyst whose immense
talent was applied towards achieving pragmatic objectives in Pakistan's
national interest."
An outstanding
strategist and diplomatist, General Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan enjoyed
a distinguished career in the Pakistani Army that began before Pakistan's
independence. Rising to the rank Lieutenant General, Yaqub-Khan
served as Chief of General Staff, Commander of the Eastern Zone
and Governor of East Pakistan. On retiring from the Army, he embarked
on a career as a diplomat, serving as Ambassador to France, the
USA, and the Soviet Union in 1972-82. Since 1982, he had served
as Foreign Minister in seven different governments. From 1992 to
1997, Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan was the United Nations Secretary General's
Special Representative for the Western Sahara, and later served
as Chairman of AKU Board of Trustees. He was also a Commissioner
of the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict. It was
during his three years in a prisoner of war camp in Italy, and later
in Germany, that Sahabzada, rather than idle away the long hours,
learnt French, Russian, German and Italian, and that in such depth
that he not only could speak these languages but was also able to
appreciate their literature and poetry. Later he added an elementary
knowledge of Arabic and Bengali to his repertoire, emerging as an
intellectual and linguist, a rare combination in military circles.
Sahabzada's close associate Professor Abdul Qayyum rightly points
out: "What are we to make (of his life and work) except to observe
how far a man may go if he is ready to educate himself."
In his address
on this occasion, Chief Guest Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi,
Chairman of AKU Board of Trustees, recounting his close association
with the "remarkable linguist, strategist and diplomatist," said
that Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan had spent many years defending and promoting
Pakistan's national interests, and brought credit to the country.
"We kept our heads high when he was our Foreign Minister. He gave
Pakistan a high profile internationally. He did this with dignity,
sagacity, composure, tact and sensitivity," recalled Ambassador
Dehlavi. He quoted Jean de Lipkowski, a former foreign minister
of France, as once saying that "Pakistan is very lucky to have at
the head of its diplomacy one of the most remarkable and most respected
persons in the international field."
Ambassador Dehlavi
said that Sahabzada's pioneering efforts had provided AKU with a
strong foundation because of which "the University has been able
to maintain the high standards of quality that Sahabzada Sahib demanded
of it from its inception." He stated Sahabzada would soon see the
Faculty of Arts and Sciences completed, "where, to honour him, there
will be a professorship in Philosophy in his name." Ambassador Dehlavi
congratulated Dr Anwar Dil, for "so painstakingly summing up Sahabzada
Yaqub-Khan's three careers and passions." He spoke of Sahabzada's
eight brilliant lectures, specially the one on Strategy, his talk
on Imagination, and another on "Diplomacy as a Problem in Epistemology",
which "clearly bring out his skills as an outstanding strategist
and diplomatist, and describe his vision of a world of dialogue
and peace for all of humanity."
He concluded
on a reflection Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan made last year at an international
conference on "A New Peace - A New War", which, he observed, rings
so true and is so appropriate for the world we live in: "Unless
we are at peace within ourselves, unless we can bring balance, harmony,
and symmetry to appease this inner turmoil, it would be difficult
to approach with wisdom and temperance the external conflicts we
want to resolve. Neither justice nor peace can flow from individuals
who have not succeeded in bringing under a degree of control the
passions that are at war within themselves."
In his eloquent
speech, AKU President Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, H.I., S.I., said
that it was most befitting to have the ceremony at the University,
the foundation of which "reverberates with the leadership, wisdom
and charisma of Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan." "We will use the introduction
of this book to celebrate a career and life of a distinguished scholar,
statesman, and lifelong friend of AKU, a life filled with remarkable
accomplishments but most of all profound service to this country
and its citizens." observed President Kassim-Lakha. Speaking on
his nearly 20 years of association with Sahabzada, President Kassim-Lakha
noted that "as Chair of the Board, "Sahabzada Sahib gave excellent
support to the management at Board meetings and alerted us to issues
that were not always totally clear to us." His creativity and leadership,
he added, shone bright during fundamental initiatives of the University.
"His chairmanship of the Chancellor's Commission led to an unusual
and carefully considered vision of the future of AKU, dedicated
to social development." One of the developments recommended by that
Commission is what is now known as the Institute for the Study of
Muslim Civilisations, in London. "Through his editorial pencilling
of the concept for this Institute, he made a genuine and lasting
contribution to the University, thanks to the depth of his understanding
of the Muslim world, its historical antecedents, its future potential
and the urgent need for change."
Recalling the
time when the degree of AKU's Doctor of Letters was bestowed upon
Sahabazad Yaqub-Khan, President Kassim-Lakha quoted the words of
His Highness the Aga Khan, who, on that occasion, said, "Sahabzada's
career of service to this country and to this University is a model
for all who have been, are, or will in the future, be associated
with this institution."
In the most
riveting discourse, Sahabzada recommended appropriate consideration
to the concept of time and its relation with space and the need
to continue with the process of discussion for the solution of issues.
In his usual
philosophising manner, Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan discussed the effect
of time on issues and temper of the people on the quality of their
resolution, and said that often time and not the people gives the
right solution. "Different cultures have different concepts of time,
and so on. And as you know, the Chinese have shown farsightedness
and vision, and a certain patience which enables them to live with
problems until they are gradually solved," he explained. He said
Hong Kong was an example of the way time resolved its relations
with China, and then the border dispute between China and India,
over which the Chinese have maintained silence for more than four
decades. He said there is something intrinsic about the way they
wait and see time take its course.
He said Dr Dil
deserved all credit for the book. "It was his persuasion .that compelled
me to complete the compilation of this book," he added. Sahabzada
Yaqub-Khan noted that the book would provide insight into the days
and time he spent in the discharge of his civil and military responsibilities.
During the programme,,
Sahabzada received twice a standing ovation from the audience.
Others who spoke
on the occasion were Dr Anwar Dil, editor of the book, Dr Sharif
Al Mujahid, former director of Quaid-e-Azam Academy and Professor
at University of Karachi, and Abdul Kader Jaffer, President, Ahmed
E.H. Jaffer Foundation, former High Commissioner of Pakistan to
London.
The ceremony
concluded with a vote of thanks by Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan, who, later,
also autographed books for the distinguished guests, including senior
government officials and diplomats, as well as AKU faculty, staff
and students.
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