Decolonisation in UK-Pakistan Cultural
RSVP
The legacy of colonialism continues to shape the United Kingdom (UK) and Pakistan relations, particularly in education, language and knowledge production. Addressing these historical imbalances is essential for fostering a relationship that benefits both sides.
Recognising the significance of this issue, Dr Mary Hunter as part of her six-month research fellowship at the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research (CSCR) authored a policy memo on ‘Decolonisation in UK-Pakistan Cultural Relations’. Her policy memo provides in-depth analysis and actionable recommendations to develop a balanced and cooperative relationship between the two countries.
To bring these findings to a wider audience, the CSCR is hosting an online launch event on 26 February 2025, where Dr. Hunter will present key findings of her research. This will be followed by a panel discussion with experts including Dr. Fatima Sajjad, and Dr. Ahmad Waqas Waheed, and an interactive session with the audience. This event is an important platform for academics, policymakers, and cultural practitioners to rethink and reshape the UK-Pakistan relations through a decolonial lens.
Dr Mary Hunter, Research Fellow, CSCR
Dr Mary Hunter is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research, conducting research primarily on decolonisation in UK-Pakistan bilateral relations. She completed both of her degrees at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, first earning a Master of Theology degree and later a doctorate. Her doctoral thesis contextualised Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamisation of Pakistan and its impact on religious minorities in the thought of Maududi and British colonialism. Dr Hunter has contributed numerous articles to newspapers and think tanks, largely on topics relating to Pakistan, Islamophobia and religious minorities, and she has worked for two research centres previously. Her interdisciplinary research interests explore the intersections of religion, politics, history, and law, particularly regarding Pakistan and its religious minorities.
Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Mirza, Associate Professor, School of Politics and International Relations, QAU Islamabad
Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Mirza is an Associate Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, QAU Islamabad. He holds a PhD in International Relations and Political Science from Université Toulouse 1, France, along with an MS-Research in Geopolitics and International Relations from IEP Toulouse, France, and an MSc in International Relations from QAU Islamabad. His research focuses on U.S. foreign policy, comparative politics, foreign policy analysis, and advanced research methods.
Dr. Fatima Sajjad, Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Critical Peace Studies (CCPS), UMT Lahore
Dr. Fatima Sajjad is an Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Critical Peace Studies at the University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore. She holds a PhD in International Relations from Punjab University, an MPhil from Kinnaird College, and an MSc from Quaid-i-Azam University. She is the founder of ‘The Pluriversity Lahore’- a multilingual educational forum based in Pakistan that divests from the dominant knowledge of peace and security. Her work questions contemporary education policies and structures that limit education’s capacity to nurture critical consciousness and reflexivity. Countering epistemic violence in Peace Studies, liberation psychologies, combative Decoloniality and building peace education based on autonomous knowledge are her current research/action interests.
Dr. Ahmad Waqas Waheed, Executive Director, Roads Initiative
Dr. Ahmad Waqas Waheed is the Executive Director of Roads Initiative. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Queen Mary University of London, UK, and a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Sussex, UK. He has authored books including The Wrong Ally: Pakistan’s State Sovereignty under US Dependence and Constructing Pakistan through Knowledge Production in International Relations and Area Studies. His research interests focus on international relations, political science, and knowledge production in Pakistan.
On 26 February 2025, the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research (CSCR) hosted a launch event for its new policy memo titled “Decolonisation in UK-Pakistan Cultural Relations,” authored by its Visiting Research Fellow Dr. Mary Hunter. Talha Ibrahim, Director Academics, moderated the discussion, highlighting Dr. Hunter’s research and her deep engagement beyond academic spaces.
Mr. Ibrahim emphasised the necessity of a decolonial lens to analyse enduring colonial structures in education, governance, and cultural interactions. He stressed that decolonisation demands the dismantling of systemic inequalities embedded in policies and institutions, not just theoretical discourse. Quoting Frantz Fanon, he urged a rethinking of bilateral engagements to avoid perpetuating historical imbalances, emphasising that true decolonisation reshapes identity, power, and thought.
Dr. Mary Hunter presented her research findings, focusing on the enduring impact of British colonial influence, particularly in education and language. She argued that decolonisation extends beyond independence, requiring the dismantling of colonial structures, addressing Eurocentric biases, and fostering reciprocal exchanges. Unlike India, Pakistan lacks a formal decolonisation policy. Dr. Hunter critiqued British cultural institutions, such as the British Council, for perpetuating one-way cultural flows and advocated for balanced exchange. She recommended that the British and Pakistani governments, the British Council, and higher education institutions host conferences with Pakistani scholars, reduce financial barriers, increase funding for collaborative frameworks, establish indigenous language academic journals, and integrate non-Western contributions into British education reform. Dr. Hunter acknowledged challenges to implementing decolonisation, including concerns over UK soft power, financial constraints, and resistance to discussions on historical injustices. She emphasised that Pakistani scholars should lead the discourse. She concluded that decolonisation requires the UK to recognise its colonial legacy, challenge Western superiority, and support structural reform in cultural relations, while Pakistan defines its own decolonial path and the UK fosters equitable partnerships.
Dr. Fatima Sajjad, Associate Professor at UMT Lahore, emphasised that decolonisation is an active, complex process. She argued that colonial legacies deeply shape UK-Pakistan relations, making complete decolonisation challenging. Instead, she advocated for reducing cultural colonialism and rethinking entrenched systems. She highlighted how colonialism shaped borders, political structures, and epistemic frameworks, requiring a shift in mindsets. Dr. Sajjad stressed the need to move beyond binary thinking, critically engage with knowledge production, and avoid uncritically adopting Western policies. She differentiated decolonisation from diversity, inclusion, and equity, which often still centre Western dominance. True decolonisation, she argued, means decentring the white academy. She critiqued the neoliberal framework that prioritises economic interests over education, noting the persistence of Macaulay-era policies. She advocated for building a scholarly network and being mindful of language, emphasising that decolonisation requires continuous, equal dialogue and long-term knowledge co-construction.
Dr. Ahmad Waqas Waheed, Executive Director of the Roads Initiative, highlighted the need to rethink both epistemic and material dimensions of colonial influence. He argued that the promotion of English stems from neoliberal Pakistani universities, not solely external imposition. Dr. Waheed critiqued flaws in world history syllabi, particularly CIE courses, which centre the Western world while neglecting the impact of colonialism on epistemic conditions and global inequalities. He emphasised the active participation of colonised societies in history, yet their marginalised contributions. He also critiqued security studies for maintaining power structures. He posed fundamental questions about a decolonised Pakistan and knowledge system, acknowledging the complexity and long-term nature of these issues. He stressed that decolonisation is an ongoing process requiring continuous reflection and action.
In response to audience questions, panellists clarified that decolonisation is not about blaming the West but challenging internalised colonial mindsets. They emphasised the need to rethink blind imitation and redefine development beyond the Western model, advocating for a collective effort engaging both Pakistan and the West. Regarding Pakistan’s captive academic structures, they argued that true decolonisation requires breaking free from these limitations. They also discussed the role of colonial spaces, universities, schools, and academic journals, in maintaining colonial legacies. While acknowledging the nation-state system, a colonial construct, remains central, they stressed the importance of critically examining and reimagining its role in perpetuating colonial power structures.
In essence, decolonisation in UK and Pakistan relations requires dismantling the colonial legacies, fostering equitable dialogue and rethinking systemic structure for more reciprocal relations.