ISLAMABAD, February 14. /Dunyo IA/. A spiritual and educational event was held at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Pakistan to commemorate the 543rd anniversary of the birth of poet and statesman Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The commemorative event at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Pakistan drew participation from representatives of Pakistan’s academic and educational communities, Babur scholars, historians, university students and active members of the Uzbek diaspora.

In his welcoming address, Alisher Tukhtaev spoke at length about the life and statecraft legacy of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, emphasizing the significance of his patriotic and constructive ideas. He highlighted that Babur’s works vividly reflect universal human values, including themes of love and longing for one’s homeland. According to the ambassador, Babur earned a distinguished place in world history as a historian-writer, lyric poet and thinker who contributed meaningfully to the development of social thought.

“Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur is regarded as one of the key figures in the history of Central and South Asia. The foundations of statehood he laid have played a significant role in the historical development of modern Pakistan, - noted Tukhtaev. - Uzbekistan and Pakistan actively collaborate in studying and promoting his legacy, including through the work of research centers in both countries. At the same time, in my view, the contribution of our great forebear to the history of Pakistan has not yet received full recognition”.

The event also highlighted Uzbekistan’s active efforts to preserve and promote the legacy of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur. A prominent example of this commitment is the “Babur City” project in Andijan, initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Guests were provided with an overview of Babur’s reign and the Baburid dynasty’s presence in the territory of present-day Pakistan, emphasizing how their statecraft and cultural activities laid important historical foundations for interconnections between peoples.

The ambassador also described the work of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in preserving the Baburid heritage. In September 2025, a delegation from the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan visited Pakistan; the outcome included the production and screening of a five-part documentary series dedicated to studying and safeguarding the Baburid legacy.

Participants were further informed that during the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Pakistan on February 5-6, an intergovernmental agreement was signed on the preservation and study of the Baburid cultural and architectural heritage.

It was also noted that work is ongoing in Pakistan to establish a Baburid Research Center dedicated to scientific, educational, and cultural activities. These efforts are expected to enhance the preservation of Babur’s cultural legacy and that of his dynasty, as well as to restore and maintain historical mausoleums associated with their names.

Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the “Center for Community with a Shared Future” noted that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's initiative to restore ties between the two regions holds historical significance for Uzbekistan and Pakistan. He emphasized that it opens new opportunities for strengthening the brotherly relations established during the era of Babur.

According to him, Babur’s creation of a powerful state on the territory of Pakistan became a vital stage in the development of political, economic and cultural links between Central and South Asia. This period can be seen as the beginning of regional interdependence. In 2026, Pakistan will widely celebrate the 500th anniversary of the founding of Babur’s state.

Great attention is paid to Babur’s heritage in Pakistan. Joint research, the study of historical manuscripts, and exchange programs between universities in Uzbekistan and Pakistan are particularly important - these are valuable from both academic and practical perspectives.

In his speech, renowned journalist Ramzan Mughal highlighted the role of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur in the history of South Asia.

Babur demonstrated courage and political wisdom by founding the Mughal dynasty on the territory of Pakistan, which influenced culture, architecture, and governance for centuries. He was not only a commander and statesman but also a poet and his “Baburnama” is valued as a unique source on the life, nature and people of that era. For Pakistan, Babur's heritage is part of our shared history and cultural roots, and the monuments and traditions of his descendants continue to exert influence today,- journalist stated.

At the final stage of the meeting, students of the International Islamic University in Islamabad, together with compatriots and diplomats, recited excerpts from Babur's rubais and ghazals, lending the event a special cultural atmosphere.