Turkish envoy, scholars pay homage to Abdul Rahman Peshawari’s legacy

ISLAMABAD: The Yunus Emre Institute, Pakistan, and Idara Farogh-e-Qaumi Zaban jointly organised a conference to commemorate the life and legacy of Abdul Rahman Peshawari, a renowned figure who symbolises the cultural and historical ties between Turkey and Pakistan.

Abdur Rahman Peshawari (1886–1925) was a Turkish soldier, journalist and diplomat who was born in Peshawar in British India.

The conference, held at Aiwan e Urdu was presided over by GC Women University Faisalabad Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Kanwal Amin. Turkish Ambassador Irfan Naziroglu was the chief guest.

Yunus Emre Institute Country Director Prof Dr Halil Toker shed light on the aims and objectives of the conference. He highlighted the significance of Abdul Rahman Peshawari’s contributions to the cultural and historical heritage of both Turkey and Pakistan.

Salim Jan, the great-grandson of Abdul Rahman Peshawari, delivered the keynote address, paying tribute to the life and services of his illustrious ancestor.

Prominent intellectuals and writers from Turkey and Pakistan including Dr Mehmet Toyran, Education Counselor, Turkish Embassy, Sima Nu Ercan, Abdul Akbar, Dr Farooq Adil, Dr Sadaf Naqvi and Dr Ziauddin, shared their insights on Abdul Rehman Peshawari’s contributions.

Turkish Ambassador Naziroglu paid tribute to the services of Abdul Rehman Peshawari, highlighting the centuries-old brotherly relations between Turkey and Pakistan.

He emphasised the importance of strengthening cultural and historical ties between the two nations.

Professor Dr Kanwal Amin emphasised the need to remember and honour the contributions of great heroes like Abdul Rahman Peshawari.

She expressed her gratitude to the conference administration, particularly Prof Dr Halil Toker and, Idara Farogh-e-Qaumi Zaban Director General Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar.

Prof Salem Mazhar thanked all the distinguished guests, especially Prof Dr. Kanwal Amin and Turkish Ambassador Irfan Naziroglu. He reiterated that the doors of the Institute for the Promotion of National Language are always open for strengthening bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan.

The conference was attended by prominent scholars, researchers, and students from various universities and institutions in Pakistan.

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The event served as a platform to promote cultural understanding, exchange ideas, and strengthen the historical ties between Turkey and Pakistan.

According to Wikipedia, born into a wealthy family of Kashmiri–Pashtun heritage, he completed his schooling in Peshawar and attended the prestigious Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh.

A Muslim nationalist, Peshawari left his education and journeyed to Ottoman Turkey in 1912 among a group of volunteer medics from British India to aid Ottoman forces in the Balkan War.

At the end of the war, he chose to stay behind in Turkey and joined the Ottoman Army, earning a distinguished military career participating in the First World War. He also briefly worked as a journalist for Anadolu Agency.

In 1920, he was appointed by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as Turkey’s first envoy to Afghanistan.

In 1925, he was the target of an assassination attempt in Istanbul in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity, and died of gunshot wounds a month later in a hospital.

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