ISLAMABAD: Senator Mushahid Hussain served as chief guest at an event on, July 25 marking the birth centenary of Fidel Castro, hosted by the Cuban Embassy in Islamabad, where he inaugurated a photo exhibition chronicling the Cuban revolutionary leader’s life and legacy.
The exhibition featured historic photographs of Castro, including images from his meetings with world leaders such as Nelson Mandela, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and the Pope, along with photos from his armed struggle for Cuban independence.
It also highlighted his speeches including his address to the United Nations General Assembly, which remains the longest speech in the body’s history at four hours and 29 minutes.
Speaking at the event, Hussain recalled his own visit to Cuba as part of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation and described Castro as a figure representing defiance, dignity, and solidarity among developing nations.
He said Cuba’s experience under Castro demonstrated that a nation’s size doesn’t determine its strength, pointing to how the island nation, home to roughly 9 million people and located just 90 miles from the United States, withstood destabilization efforts, including the CIA backed “Bay of Pigs” invasion in 1961.
Hussain also praised Cuba’s healthcare system, calling it a role model for the Global South. He specifically highlighted Cuba’s support for Pakistan following the October 2005 earthquake, when Cuban doctors, nurses, and specialists were sent to Pakistan along with hospital equipment, all donated free of charge as an expression of solidarity.
He thanked the Cuban government for providing scholarships to 1,000 Pakistani medical students, many of whom are now practicing as trained doctors across Pakistan.
Hussain described Cuba as an example of a nation that has successfully defended its sovereignty and national independence despite external pressure.
Hussain also referenced Cuba’s history before the 1959 revolution, describing it as a period marked by criminal activity, gambling, and money laundering, citing its portrayal in the film “The Godfather.” He also referenced Castro’s 1953 courtroom speech during his trial as a political prisoner, later published under the title “History Will Absolve Me.”
Hussain closed his remarks by expressing hope that ties between Pakistan and Cuba would continue to grow, calling “South-South cooperation” increasingly important going forward.
