Islamabad: The Indonesian Embassy and Bahria University have joined forces to organise an International Online Internship Programme (OIP), featuring prominent experts and scholars from Indonesia. The program aims to showcase modern Indonesia, foster mutual learning opportunities, and further strengthen the ties between Indonesia and Pakistan.

The OIP was inaugurated virtually by Dr. Teuku Faizasyah, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy, who emphasised the programme’s two-way learning approach. He stated that the OIP provides a platform to analyse Indonesia from various aspects while also allowing participants to explore potential cooperation opportunities between the two countries.

Dr. Faizasyah expressed his hope that the programme would enrich participants’ knowledge about Indonesia and stimulate meaningful exchanges of views among scholars, students, and the general public.

Highlighting the shared similarities between Indonesia and Pakistan as the largest Muslim populations with a shared history of colonisation, Dr. Faizasyah underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two nations. He emphasised the need to invest in efforts that enhance mutual understanding and people-to-people connections, referencing the historic Asian African Conference of 1959 as a testament to the values of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation.

Rear Admiral Zakaur Rehman, Director General of Bahria University, expressed gratitude to Dr. Faizasyah for his virtual presence at the OIP’s inaugural session. He commended Ambassador Adam M. Tugio’s initiative in organizing the program, highlighting the Indonesian Ambassador’s commitment to furthering fraternal ties between Indonesia and Pakistan through education. Rear Admiral Rehman encouraged participants to fully benefit from the diverse range of topics discussed by Indonesian panelists to enhance their understanding of contemporary Indonesia’s dynamics.

Ambassador Adam M. Tugio, Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan, emphasised that the OIP brings a wealth of Indonesian experiences and similarities for participants to explore. He highlighted Indonesia’s struggle to overcome successive political and economic challenges, drawing parallels to the situation in Pakistan. Ambassador Tugio aimed to expand the perception of Indonesia beyond its associations with President Sukarno, palm oil, and Bali, emphasizing its status as the world’s third-largest democracy, an emerging global economy of inclusive growth, and a pluralistic society with the largest Muslim population worldwide.

Ambassador Tugio also shared his pleasure in acknowledging that Pakistani students have been among the highest recipients of scholarships in Indonesia in recent years. He expressed hope that the OIP would attract more Pakistani students to study about modern Indonesia, both in Pakistan and in Indonesia itself.

In the first session of the OIP, Dr. Abdul Gaffar Karim from Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta spoke about the discourse on Islam and nationalism in Indonesia. As a country with the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia’s 1945 constitution and Pancasila ideology ensure freedom of religion for all faiths, despite not being an Islamic state. Dr. Karim highlighted the ongoing debate on finding the balance between Islam and nationalism in Indonesia, underscoring the country’s diversity and pluralism.

The Online Internship Programme will continue over a span of six weeks, featuring dedicated sessions with speakers from Indonesia to facilitate focused and productive engagement between participants and experts. The upcoming session will focus on Indonesia’s journey to democracy and is scheduled for Thursday, August 20th.

The OIP stands as a testament to the commitment of both Indonesia and Pakistan in strengthening ties, fostering mutual understanding, and promoting educational exchanges between the two nations.