The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) hosted a two-day international conference titled “Seventy Years after Bandung: The Struggle Continues” on April 26-27, 2025, bringing together scholars, diplomats, and experts from Pakistan and abroad to reflect on the shifting dynamics of global politics.
The conference focused on comparing the world order of the past with the challenges of the present, particularly the issues of global injustice, the struggle for a fair international economic system, environmental degradation, the impact of modern technologies, and the enduring promises of the post-colonial era.
After the welcome address by Dr. Masuma Hasan, the honorary chairperson of PIIA, the event was formally inaugurated by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who, in his opening remarks, emphasized the need to revisit and reaffirm the core principles that shaped the Bandung spirit solidarity, non-alignment, sovereignty, and the collective resistance to colonization.
He expressed deep concerns over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the continued struggles in India-held Jammu and Kashmir. Senator Sherry Rehman, a senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), in her keynote address, underlined the urgent need to prioritize environmental sustainability alongside other global challenges. She emphasized that clean environments, protection of natural resources, and climate justice must be central to any discussions about the future international order.
Throughout the two days, a series of thought-provoking sessions tackled critical themes such as decolonization, the challenges of the Global South, emerging technologies, human rights, environmental degradation, multipolarity, and the quest for global peace. Each session aimed to foster deeper dialogue, propose pathways for cooperation, and develop practical strategies to advance justice, equality, and genuine sovereignty.
By revisiting the Bandung legacy and adapting its spirit to contemporary realities, the PIIA’s international conference offered a timely and critical platform for intellectual exchange, aiming to shape a more equitable and peaceful global future.
