The need to promote dialogue and co-operation amongst religions and cultures was no longer an option for our contracting world, but it was a political and imperative. Pakistan's High Commissioner in London0 Dr Maleeha Lodhi said this while addressing a conference as the keynote speaker on the theme "exploring strategies to enhance interfaith co-operation for sustainable peace."
Dr Lodhi said: "The promotion of peace, security and prosperity at the dawn of 21st century depends more than ever before on the promotion of understanding accommodation and co-operation among peoples of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds."
She said many would agreed that the root causes of friction between cultures and civilisations were not primarily religious differences. "The central message of all religions is almost identical. The root causes are often a clash of political and economic interests. Clearly, responses to conflicted political interests may often be cast in religious terms but this is only an expedient disguise for those pursuing narrow political and national objectives," she said.
At the political level, the envoy said it was apparent that interfaith harmony and indeed justice and morality require the resolution of political injustice to which people were often subjected due to their faith or belief.
Ambassador Lodhi said the protection of religious minorities was a pervasive problem that existed in all societies both poor and rich. "It is necessary to analyse the situation of religious minorities on a case-by-case basis and to develop thorough national and international plans to assist these communities in achievement their just and fundamental political, economic and social rights."
Dr Maleeha said: "In certain societies where migration has created a sudden mixture of faiths and culture, conscious processes for gradual and peaceful integration, co-existence and co-operation is necessary. A start could be made with the adoption of confidence-building measures that can overcome the hate and negative stereotypes that some have allowed to occur." "Similarly, and perhaps even more urgently, it is necessary to secure early resolution of conflicts and disputes where relations with different religions and faiths are directly involved."
Maleeha said she had no hesitation in mentioning that such conflicts included Palestine and the Middle East, Kashmir and similar problems where Muslim peoples felt that they had been the objects of historical injustice.
"To this end, from the political negotiations which are taking place among the parties concerned, it would be useful if interfaith dialogue were to lead to the creation of contact groups, with a similar tripartite structure on major political issues."