Uzbekistan is the cradle of ancient civilizations and cultures.

Byline: Farhat Asif

For the past many centuries, people of the land that is today's Pakistan have remained connected and inspired by the history, culture, lifestyle, ideas, and trade in the lands that are today Uzbekistan. Merchants and Sufis travelled from marvels of Samarkand and Bukhara to the Indus Valley and beyond to not only spread the words of wisdom and merchandise trade but also to share ideas and ethos. A few Sufi saints also travelled to South Asia carrying the true message and meaning of Islam, preaching religious tolerance mutual co-existence and respect to the people across the region. Uzbekistan has remained the center for Sufi Islam with many towering Islamic figures like Imam Bukhari for his outstanding contributions for bringing the knowledge of hadith to us.

Similarly, Hazrat Baha al-Din al Naqshbandi in Bukhara inspired the oldest living Sufi tradition of Naqshband in Pakistan. The Sufi orders emanating from this region illuminated the world with the true essence of Islam and its teaching. Uzbekistan is the land of Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi, Abu Rayan al-Biruni, Abu Ali Ibn Sina, Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, and many other great Muslim philosophers, scientists, and saints. A local proverb goes like this "In all other parts of the world, light descends upon the earth from holy Samarkand and Bukhara". It reflects outstanding knowledge and cultural history of the region and the people whose geniuses and intelligence made this region shine out of the other geographical regions of the world.

The linkage between today's Pakistan and Uzbekistan is rooted in this centuries-old connectedness between the peoples of the two lands. Pakistan and Uzbekistan share a deep commonality of a historical and rich heritage dating back to the time when the fabled Silk Road facilitated enriching exchange of ideas and trade from east and west. For many centuries, the Silk Road made significant contributions towards the development and flourishing of the ancient civilizations in the regions it traversed. Famous German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen gave this name to the route used by caravans, nomads, tribes, and traders over the years to merchandise silk, ideas, and culture across the route.

Ancient maps also find out that the routes of the silk road were from east, south, and southeast Asia going through Central Asia onwards to Russian territories. Along with these there were Indian subcontinent routes too that moved on to Arab lands. This route...