Embassy of Pakistan and Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art Reaffirm Commitment to Promote Cultural Partnership
By Elaine Pasquini
Washington, DC: “Pakistan is a bastion of cultural and religious diversity, and we are eager to share its time-honored traditions with a global audience,” said Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, ambassador of Pakistan to the United States during a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art on July 8, 2025, noting the visit marked a significant step toward strengthening cultural cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. “This is just a humble beginning. We aim to forge a strong relationship with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art geared to showcasing Pakistan’s unique art and culture, which boasts a rich history.”
The partnership will focus on creating a robust framework for cooperation in the areas of culture, arts and heritage, showcasing Pakistan’s unique artistic traditions and deep historical roots to a global audience.
Welcoming Ambassador Sheikh and senior diplomats from the Embassy of Pakistan, Chase F. Robinson, director of the National Museum of Asian Art, expressed gratitude for the visit and emphasized the museum’s enthusiasm in working alongside the Embassy to represent the rich and diverse cultural legacy of Pakistan in the United States.
“The National Museum of Asian Art was founded on the humanistic ideals of Charles Lang Freer, promoting unity through culture,” noted Robinson. He then briefed the delegation on the museum’s collections and its global mission, with special attention to the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, which together house over 46,000 objects from across Asia and the Middle East, including notable works from Pakistan.
Highlighting the importance of cultural exchanges and inclusive diplomacy, Ambassador Sheikh identified culture as a powerful tool for fostering peace as well as mutual understanding and respect among nations.
“History teaches us that cultures have always intermingled to shape civilizations. In today’s world, arts and culture must be at the heart of diplomacy, helping to build bridges between nations,” the ambassador said. “Diplomacy must be anchored in art and culture.”
Ambassador Sheikh also proposed the joint organization of a virtual symposium to spotlight iconic artifacts from Pakistan’s cultural heritage, including the Gandhara and Indus Valley Civilization, Mughal heritage along with Pakistan’s film industry.
Following the discussions, the delegation was given a private tour of the museum’s vast collections, with particular interest in the Gandhara gallery and the Islamic Arts Center, both of which feature artifacts deeply connected to Pakistan’s cultural legacy.
Ambassador Sheikh concluded the visit by reaffirming the Embassy’s commitment to formalizing the cooperation, establishing a dedicated mechanism to facilitate future exhibitions of Pakistani art and artifacts at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution.
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
