Independent Report
Paris, January 19, 2026:
The Embassy of Pakistan in Paris hosted an academic seminar highlighting archaeological research on Pakistan’s 5,000-year-old Indus Valley Civilization, featuring Dr Aurore Didier, Director of the French Archaeological Mission of the Indus Basin.
The event brought together representatives from UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, the Agha Khan Development Network (AKDN), archaeologists, historians, and members of the diplomatic community. The seminar was organized with the support of the Cercle des Amis du Pakistan.
Dr Didier presented an overview of French archaeological work in Pakistan, with a detailed briefing on a decade of excavations at Chanhu-daro—one of the most significant sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. She also emphasized how ancient societies adapted to river and environmental changes, offering insights relevant to contemporary climate change and disaster-related challenges in South Asia.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch highlighted seventy years of Pakistan-France cooperation in archaeology and appreciated the French Archaeological Mission’s role in advancing research and capacity-building among local scholars and communities.
The Ambassador also expressed strong support for the Cercle des Amis du Pakistan for its efforts in promoting Pakistan’s cultural heritage and diversity.
