**ISSI Hosts Event Celebrating Egypt’s Revolution Day, Highlighting Strengthening Ties with Pakistan**
The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) marked Egypt’s ‘Revolution Day’ with a special event aimed at celebrating the historic occasion and deepening cooperation between Egypt and Pakistan. The gathering, jointly organized by ISSI’s Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), brought together senior diplomats, policy experts, and government officials to reflect on the shared history and growing partnership between the two nations.
The event commenced with the national anthems of both Pakistan and Egypt, establishing an atmosphere of mutual respect and camaraderie. Moderated by Ms. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA, the proceedings included remarks from prominent figures such as ISSI Director General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood; Egypt’s Ambassador Dr. Ihab Abdelhamid Hassan; Pakistan’s Ambassador to Egypt Aamir Shouket; and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BOG ISSI. Mr. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President of PAIDAR, served as Chief Guest while the keynote address was delivered by Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Secretary (Africa), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed emphasized the prioritization of Africa within Pakistan’s foreign policy, singling out Egypt for its unique civilizational legacy and pivotal role in the Arab world. He highlighted Egypt’s major post-World War II achievements, including the 1952 Revolution, the 1956 nationalization of the Suez Canal, and its robust response during the 1973 Ramadan War. Senator Sayed also pointed to Pakistan’s instrumental role in facilitating Egypt’s return to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 1984 and recalled Quaid-i-Azam’s early diplomatic outreach to Egypt, underscoring the enduring ties between the two countries.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood reflected on the transformative impact of the 1952 Revolution, describing it as a milestone in Egypt’s pursuit of sovereignty and social justice that inspired millions across the region. He praised Egypt’s ongoing contributions to peace and development in the Middle East and North Africa, and acknowledged the traditionally cordial and cooperative relationship with Pakistan, manifest in collaboration at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, OIC, Developing-8, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Ambassador Mahmood highlighted opportunities for greater cooperation, notably in trade, energy, education, and tourism, and reaffirmed ISSI’s commitment to expanding academic and policy exchanges with Egyptian institutions.
Delivering the keynote, Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan praised Egypt’s historical and cultural achievements, including its architectural heritage and the prominence of Al-Azhar University. He underscored shared challenges like water security and lauded Egypt’s thriving tourism industry, suggesting that Pakistan could draw valuable lessons from Egypt’s experience. Ambassador Khan also emphasized Pakistan’s investment potential in Africa, referencing the Pakistani football factory in Egypt, and advocated for a forward-looking development agenda modeled on Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Ms. Amina Khan highlighted Egypt’s Revolution Day as a defining moment in its journey toward sovereignty and regional leadership. She pointed to the central role Egypt plays in both the Arab and African contexts and its significance to Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ strategy. Ms. Khan remarked on the untapped potential for collaboration in sectors such as higher education, agriculture, climate adaptation, and digital connectivity.
Ambassador Dr. Ihab Abdelhamid Hassan marked the Revolution Day as a moment of national pride, commemorating Egypt’s resilience and progress since the 1952 Revolution. He emphasized the strong and historic bonds with Pakistan, which recognized Egypt diplomatically at an early stage and has partnered closely across diplomatic, defense and multilateral fields. As a token of friendship, Ambassador Ihab presented a collection of Egyptian books to the ISSI library and underscored Egypt’s ongoing support for Pakistani students through annual scholarships at Al-Azhar University.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Aamir Shouket, described the Revolution as a turning point in Egypt’s modern history and reaffirmed Pakistan’s respect for Egypt’s transformative journey. He noted the longstanding partnership rooted in shared values, cultural ties, and strategic alignment, and discussed current and prospective areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood reiterated the historic nature of the Pakistan-Egypt relationship, echoing its importance to Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy. He lauded the roles of ISSI and PAIDAR in furthering collaboration and partnership with Egypt.
The event concluded with warm congratulations for the Government and people of Egypt, reinforcing hopes for deeper ties and continued mutual growth.
