Islamabad, April 19 (NationPress) Pakistan has announced the International Gandhara Conference on Buddhist Heritage scheduled for March 27-31, extending invitations to delegations from Buddhist-majority nations including Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Japan. Nonetheless, this initiative intended to rejuvenate tourism by enticing Buddhist pilgrims, secure funding for heritage conservation, and position Pakistan as a custodian of Buddhist heritage has been canceled due to disappointing international interest and ongoing credibility issues, according to a report.

"The cancellation of the conference symbolizes Pakistan's shortcomings. The absence of a vibrant Buddhist community undermined its claims of heritage preservation. The nation’s blasphemy laws and anti-idol sentiments contradicted the principles of Buddhist acceptance. Instances of mob violence and the persecution of minorities further eroded credibility. International watchdogs such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, USCIRF, and UN experts have underscored Pakistan's failures. Buddhist nations were reluctant to support a government that engages in minority persecution. Additionally, threats were directed towards the conference venue and foreign attendees should the event proceed. The Gandhara Conference was deemed a cynical effort to exploit ruins rather than genuinely honor heritage. The revival of Gandhara was more about economic gain than a sincere respect for Buddhism," reported the European Times.

The Gandhara region, which spans from modern-day Taxila in Swat Valley to Peshawar in Pakistan, was historically a vibrant hub of Buddhist civilization and now stands on the brink of being forgotten by history.

Gandhara thrived as a melting pot of Greco-Buddhist art, monastic education, and cultural exchange under the Mauryan and Kushan empires from the 3rd century BCE to the 5th century CE.

Taxila served as a significant city where Buddhist philosophy merged with Hellenistic artistry, leading to the creation of timeless masterpieces such as the iconic Buddha statues of Swat and the Dharmarajika stupa.

By the 4th-5th century CE, Gandhara had established itself as a beacon of academic pursuit, attracting pilgrims from China, Central Asia, and beyond.

“However, this brilliance was extinguished with the violent spread of Islam in the 10th century, which brought about persecution, destruction of monasteries, and ultimately the extinction of Buddhism in the Swat region. The suppression of Buddhist heritage continues today under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which have empowered radical factions within society to systematically eliminate minorities without consequence. What remains are ruins that silently testify to a civilization erased,” the European Times report added.

The decline of Gandhara in Pakistan was marked by a brutal suppression, as idol worship was deemed shirk and punishable by death according to harsh interpretations of Islamic law.

Buddhist monks faced systematic genocide, temples were demolished, and entire communities were obliterated.

By the medieval era, Buddhism was effectively eradicated from what is now Pakistan.

This historical erasure has been exacerbated by Pakistan's current religious policies. Under blasphemy laws, any perceived disrespect towards Islam can result in capital punishment, as noted in the report.

In the 2023 census, Buddhists in Pakistan were classified under the category of "Others," constituting a mere 0.11 percent of the population.

Data from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) indicated only 1,884 Buddhists were recorded in 2017, primarily located in Sindh and Punjab.

By 2026, this number is predicted to further decline, leaving Pakistan with mere remnants of its Buddhist heritage devoid of a living Buddhist community.

This demographic void highlights Pakistan’s attempts to promote the ruins of Gandhara on an international scale while simultaneously enforcing laws that marginalize minorities.

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are employed as tools of mob violence and extortion.

A report from the European Times stated, "The Gandhara region was once a beacon of Buddhist civilization, a center of art, philosophy, and scholarship. Its decline was violent, marked by bloodshed and devastation. Today, Pakistan seeks to revive Gandhara through tourism, inviting Buddhist nations to invest in its ruins. Yet the absence of a living Buddhist community, coupled with systemic minority persecution, renders this initiative opportunistic. The cancellation of the Gandhara Conference signifies not only logistical failure but also the symbolic collapse of Pakistan’s narrative."