DPM Dar reaffirms Pakistan's support for ASEAN’s peace, prosperity efforts

Islamabad (Web Desk): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday said Pakistan considered dialogue, mutual confidence and cooperation among nations to be the most practical ways of dealing with challenges that affect countries collectively.

He also reiterated Islamabad’s firm support for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) efforts to foster peace, stability, economic prosperity and sustainable development in the region.

In his message marking the 59th anniversary of the ASEAN, Dar said Pakistan was determined to strengthen its engagement with the regional bloc as it continued its process of integration and community development.

He said Islamabad shared ASEAN’s objective of building a region that was peaceful, prosperous and increasingly interconnected.

The deputy prime minister and foreign minister conveyed warm greetings on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to ASEAN on the occasion.

He also commended ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn for his leadership and his continued efforts to advance the organisation’s agenda of regional cooperation, resilience and shared prosperity, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson.

Dar said ASEAN Day reflected the spirit of togetherness, solidarity and collaboration that had united the nations of Southeast Asia over the years.

He said Pakistan was proud to join its ASEAN partners in observing the occasion and used the opportunity to reaffirm its longstanding ties and partnership with the region.

DPM Dar described ASEAN as a notable example of countries working together toward regional integration and collective advancement.

The bloc, he said, had made considerable progress in areas such as economic development, social cohesion and diplomatic cooperation.

DPM Dar said Pakistan attached great importance to ASEAN’s contribution toward maintaining peace, stability and prosperity throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

He added that the anniversary also served as a reminder of the value of regional cooperation while offering an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures and rich historical traditions of Southeast Asia.

DPM Dar said Pakistan’s relationship with ASEAN was built around shared principles of mutual respect, non-interference and constructive interaction.

He said Pakistan had remained actively involved in dialogue initiatives led by ASEAN and was keen to broaden cooperation with the organisation in mutually beneficial fields, including commerce, investment, education, culture and closer people-to-people relations.

The deputy premier further noted that Pakistan’s partnership with ASEAN had been strengthened through its active involvement in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Through the forum, he said, Pakistan had contributed to joint initiatives designed to support regional peace, security and greater cooperation.

Referring to the increasingly complex international environment, Dar said ASEAN’s cohesion and its continued preference for dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful engagement deserved particular recognition at a time when the world was facing mounting challenges and uncertainty.