Pakistan to participate in ASEAN forum
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan at the 32nd Ministerial Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 11 (tomorrow).
The high-level meeting will bring together foreign ministers and senior representatives from 27 ARF member countries, as well as the secretary-general of ASEAN, to deliberate on key political and security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, a DPM's Office statement said.
The agenda will emphasise strengthening peace, stability, and multilateral cooperation through constructive dialogue.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar will articulate Pakistan's perspective on regional and global developments, underscoring the country's commitment to multilateralism and peaceful conflict resolution. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his Malaysian counterpart and other foreign ministers attending the forum.
During his stay in Kuala Lumpur, the DPM will also interact with members of the Pakistani diaspora in Malaysia.
Established in 1994, the ARF is a premier multilateral platform for political and security consultations in the Asia-Pacific.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Flight ban no more
Listen to article The UK's decision to remove Pakistan from its Air Safety List this week is a rare bright light in the aviation sector, especially relating to PIA, which was the only local airline still operating regular flights to the UK when the ban was imposed in 2020. The move will be a massive windfall for PIA, which was unable to capitalise on lucrative UK routes, losing customers to Middle Eastern competitors and later, British Airways. The success of the latter shows that despite the high quality of service and relatively low prices of the Middle Eastern giants, there is still a significant market for direct flights. Indeed, prior to the shutdown, the UK routes were consistently among PIA's busiest and most lucrative flights. The ban's origins were steeped in tragedy - the 2020 PIA crash in Karachi that killed 98 people, followed by the claims of then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan that nearly one-third of Pakistani pilots held dubious licences. But although over 150 pilots were grounded for various licensing discrepancies, investigations cleared all except seven pilots who were then terminated. The damage though had already been done, and it took four years for the EU to withdraw their ban last year - leading to the resumption of flights to Paris and the possibility of addition of other EU routes - and even longer for the UK ban to be withdrawn. The government is also eyeing restarting PIA flights to New York, and although this proposal still appears to be in its infancy, it helps make PIA all the more appealing to any potential suitors. From a consumer perspective, the approval will probably not have an effect for several weeks, at the minimum, as re-authorisation of PIA's routes and reallocation of aeroplanes will take time. Other airlines will likely have to acquire additional long-haul aircraft if they want to start their own flights, which would take even longer and be more costly to set up. Still, the UK remains one of the most popular routes for expats and Pakistani tourists, and more competition on direct routes will benefit consumers, while also helping well-run local airlines grow.
Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Afghan PM seeks joint efforts to resolve refugee challenges in meeting with Dar
Listen to article Afghanistan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund expressed hope that joint efforts between Afghanistan and Pakistan would be effective in addressing existing challenges, particularly in facilitating the dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland. This statement was made following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Afghan PM at the Gulkhana Palace on Thursday. The Afghan PM welcomed Dar and his delegation, expressing hope that the visit would contribute positively to the advancement of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Read More: Dar hails UAP railway agreement as milestone in regional connectivity He conveyed his greetings and best wishes to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating, 'I am pleased that your previous visit yielded positive results, and I pray that this visit will likewise bear fruitful outcomes.' In reference to the signing of the trilateral agreement among Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, he stated, 'We are exerting our utmost efforts to ensure the success of the Trans-Afghan Project.' He stated that no issue can be resolved through coercion or threats, and prayed for all parties to resolve matters through goodwill, mutual understanding, cooperation, fraternal relations, and principles of good neighbourliness. Today, His Excellency Al-Haj Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met with Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, along with his accompanying delegation,... — ارگ - ARG (@ARG_1880) July 17, 2025 During the meeting, Dar expressed his appreciation for Afghanistan's warm hospitality and conveyed, on behalf of PM Shehbaz, his greetings and well wishes to the Afghan PM. He further extended an invitation to Afghan PM Akhund to visit Pakistan. He noted that the agreements reached during the recent visit of the Pakistani delegation to Afghanistan had been successfully implemented. Dar expressed satisfaction with the signing of the trilateral agreement between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan under the governance of the Islamic Emirate. On the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study of the UAP Railway Corridor, DPM/FM, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 called on the Afghan Prime Minister, Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund. The two leaders exchanged views on… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2025 He further remarked that the Uzbek–Afghan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, which connects the three countries, would significantly enhance commercial and economic cooperation compared to previous levels. Dar added that during his recent visit to the People's Republic of China, he had requested the support of the Chinese government for the Trans-Afghan Project. He expressed Pakistan's aspiration for deeper bilateral ties so that future generations of both nations may coexist in an environment of brotherhood and harmony. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister @MIshaqDar50, along with the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, held a trilateral meeting in Kabul ahead of the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for Uzbek-Afghan-Pak (UAP) Railway project.… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2025 A meeting also took place between Dar and Afghan Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, on the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study of the UAP Rail Corridor. Both sides engaged in detailed discussions on security matters and reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating regional threats. Dar emphasised the need to address all pressing issues, particularly those related to security and border management, to fully realise the potential of economic cooperation and regional connectivity. Earlier, the DPM attended the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor in Kabul. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul, along with senior-level delegations from both sides. — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2025 Taking to X, Dar congratulated the leadership of the three countries, saying, "I congratulate the people & governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor." He also held a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting reinforced the strong ties between the three nations and their mutual commitment to peace, connectivity, trade, and regional development.
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Afghanistan vow to strengthen security, address cross-border concerns
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar called on Afghanistan's Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani in Kabul on Thursday, where the two sides held in-depth discussions on regional security cooperation and border management. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the framework agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Corridor, a landmark regional connectivity project aimed at linking Central Asia to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan, the Foreign Office said on X. During the talks, both sides reaffirmed the importance of eliminating security threats in the region and emphasised the need for close cooperation to maintain peace and stability. Dar stressed the critical importance of addressing all issues of concern, particularly related to security and border management, to unlock the full potential of economic cooperation and regional integration. The discussion comes against the backdrop of Pakistan's recent efforts to deepen strategic and security cooperation with international partners. The engagement came shortly after Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan signed the framework agreement for the Naibabad-Kharlachi rail link, a major milestone in the UAP Railway Project. Representing Pakistan at the Kabul ceremony, Dar called the project a 'transformational' step toward regional economic integration. He also credited the previous PDM government, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for laying the foundation of the initiative during his tenure as Finance Minister. As part of the same visit, Dar also met with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Both sides agreed to maintain momentum in bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in trade, transit, and security to support shared regional goals. During that meeting, both sides agreed to explore the inclusion of enhanced security-related aspects within their Strategic Engagement Plan and reaffirmed a shared commitment to diplomacy, multilateralism, and peaceful conflict resolution.
