Buddhist monks offer special prayers for peace in Kashmir.

PESHAWAR -- A special 'Buddhist prayer ceremony for peace in Kashmir' was held by the Center for Culture and Development (C2D) in collaboration with Directorate of Archaeology and Museums at Bhamala Stupa on Thursday. A high ranking Korean Buddhist Monk Neug-her Sinim offered special prayers along with a delegation of Buddhist monks visiting from Korea. Monk Sinim is a 'Scholar in Residence' with the Gandhara Research and Resource Center, Pakistan. The ceremony was held in cooperation with members of civil society and members from diverse faiths from across the world including the diplomatic community. The event was designed to highlight the Kashmir issue through cultural diplomacy, said the KP government officials, adding, this is the first time a prayer was offered at the Bhamala Stupa since the decline of Buddhism in the Gandhara region in the 7th century AD. The official added the event will also promote religious tourism to Gandhara as a pillar of Pakistan's cultural diplomacy.

Dr Nadeem Omar Tarar, Executive Director C2D, a research and policy institution working to create synergy between cultural capital and...