Peacebuilding Students Gain Firsthand Insight into Mediation at Pakistan's Embassy

Earlier this month, students from the Master of Arts in International Peacebuilding (MAP) program at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace visited the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., for a firsthand look at how diplomacy and mediation work in practice.

The visit was organized by Phoebe Milliken, Director of the MAP program, and Hina Athar Khan, Assistant Director, who thought the conversation would be especially timely due to Pakistan's recent facilitative role in de-escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

HIU officials reported that Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh welcomed the delegation and shared his perspective on maintaining communication between parties during periods of tension, the relationship between national interests and diplomatic efforts toward peace, and the role embassies play in communication, representation, and engagement.

He also briefed the students on Pakistan's longstanding commitment to peace, dialogue, and conflict resolution – and highlighted the country's diplomatic legacy, its enduring partnership with the United States, and its recent mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.

"Our consistent quest for peace has dictated our diplomatic effort, as evidenced by our role in peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding for almost eight decades now," the Ambassador told the group.

In the question-and-answer session, the students learned about the balance between transparency and privacy in diplomacy, the role of youth in diplomacy and peacebuilding, and the challenges and opportunities associated with youth populations.

This was an exceptional opportunity, officials emphasized, for HIU’s peacebuilders-in-training. A central takeaway for the students was Pakistan's approach to conflict resolution through quiet and consultative diplomacy.

Hearing directly from a sitting ambassador allowed them to connect the theories of mediation and conflict transformation they study with the practical realities of managing international affairs.

The Master of Arts in International Peacebuilding is a one-year, residential, 36-credit, master’s degree program where students develop interreligious literacy and acquire constructive conflict intervention skills through a combination of service-learning, traditional courses, experiential courses, and project-based learning. Students live in interfaith housing on campus in Hartford.