Pakistan Hopes to Advance ASEAN Partnership Status -- Envoy

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- Pakistan is hoping to elevate its standing with ASEAN from a sectoral dialogue partner to a full dialogue partner, said its High Commissioner to Malaysia, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah.

Syed Ahsan said Pakistan, ASEAN’s sectoral dialogue partner since 1993, has long valued its engagement with the regional bloc and looks forward to deepening cooperation.

“The matter has been discussed between the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Malaysia,” he said at a media briefing here, Friday.

He added that Pakistan views ASEAN as a key platform for promoting regional peace and stability, fostering economic cooperation, and advancing shared development.

In October last year, media reports quoted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as saying that Pakistan has Malaysia’s full support in its bid to become a full dialogue partner of ASEAN.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also Anwar’s offer to mediate in the Kashmir conflict, citing his respected standing and close ties with both India and Pakistan as key to easing tensions in the region.

Syed Ahsan said Anwar’s good relations with the leadership of both countries could play a constructive role in easing tensions between the South Asian neighbours.

“Anwar expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue between the two countries after being informed of the postponement of the Pakistani Prime Minister’s visit on May 9,” he said.

Syed Ahsan highlighted that the call between Anwar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken place in the first week of May, just days before fighting broke out in Kashmir.

On May 5, Malaysia’s offer to mediate comes in the wake of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and sharply raised tensions between the two neighbours.

Following the incident, Anwar expressed Malaysia’s willingness to assist in de-escalating the situation, citing its good relations with both parties.

-- BERNAM