By Adnan Hameed
TWA
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Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to Pakistan, emphasized Indonesia’s steadfast support for bolstering ASEAN-Pakistan relations to yield tangible benefits for their peoples.
Speaking at the roundtable event, “Pakistan and ASEAN: A Growing Partnership,” held in commemoration of the 57th ASEAN Day at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Kusuma highlighted the immense potential for cooperation in diverse sectors such as agriculture, education, fishery, IT, infrastructure, machinery, and tourism.
“The ASEAN Day, celebrated on August 8 each year, reflects the firm commitment of ASEAN member countries to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and contribute positively to the global community through peaceful engagement,” Kusuma noted.
This year’s theme, “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,” underscores the spirit of working and growing together, offering tremendous potential for new ventures and partnerships in expanding sectors. Kusuma emphasized the importance of moving towards more comprehensive and durable relations between ASEAN and Pakistan, given the Southeast Asian region’s status as an emerging economic hub.
Highlighting ASEAN’s cultural, economic, political, and social diversity as a major attraction, Kusuma lauded ASEAN’s central role in preserving regional peace and stability. He pointed out that ASEAN’s focus on equal partnership, mutual benefit, dialogue, and cooperation is key to its external relations.
To strengthen people-to-people interactions, the Indonesian Embassy has undertaken various initiatives, such as establishing ‘Indonesian Corners’ in Pakistan’s National Library and National Book Foundation, and offering education scholarships to Pakistanis. These efforts aim to enhance connectivity and foster closer ties between the peoples of the two regions.
“Our engagement with Ulemas and Muslim scholars from different denominations, along with extensive visits to various madrasahs in Pakistan, underscores the importance of Indonesia and Pakistan, as the two largest Muslim countries in the world, in building a stronger relationship,” Kusuma said. He highlighted the shared practices in the classical Islamic curriculum, nizam-e-madrasah, and the unique contributions of madrasahs in both countries.
At the business level, Kusuma noted Indonesia’s significant role as one of Pakistan’s largest economic partners and emphasized the Embassy’s broader engagement with business communities in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
“The establishment of one of the world’s largest noodle companies from Indonesia in Faisalabad marks a milestone for future Indonesian investments in Pakistan,” Kusuma added.
At the governmental level, Kusuma underscored the active interest in enhancing mutual dialogue and strategic cooperation for regional and global peace, stability, and trade. He expressed optimism about the future of ASEAN-Pakistan cooperation, stating, “With the joint efforts of our governments and peoples, the cooperation between ASEAN and Pakistan will have an even brighter and more harmonious future.”
