By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar led Pakistan’s delegation to the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting held in Manila, the Philippines, where foreign ministers and senior representatives from across the Asia-Pacific gathered to discuss regional security and cooperation.
The high-level meeting brought together delegates from the 27 member states of the ASEAN Regional Forum. The Secretary-General of ASEAN also attended the session, reflecting the forum’s continuing role as one of the region’s leading platforms for dialogue on political and security matters.
During the ministerial meeting, Senator Dar participated in detailed discussions on key political and security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region. The deliberations focused on strengthening regional peace, preserving stability and encouraging greater cooperation among participating countries through dialogue, diplomacy and mutual understanding. Delegates also exchanged views on the evolving strategic environment and the importance of maintaining constructive engagement to address shared concerns.
Pakistan used the forum to reaffirm its commitment to multilateral diplomacy and its support for peaceful solutions to regional and international issues. The country’s participation reflected its broader foreign policy objective of promoting cooperation, confidence-building and meaningful engagement with regional partners.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Senator Dar held bilateral meetings with his Philippine counterpart and several other foreign ministers and senior dignitaries attending the forum. The meetings provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations, discuss areas of mutual interest and explore ways to deepen cooperation in political, economic and regional affairs. The interactions also reinforced Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach with ASEAN member states and other participating countries.
The ASEAN Regional Forum, established in 1994, has continued to serve as an important mechanism for multilateral consultations on security and confidence-building measures across the Asia-Pacific. Pakistan, which became a member of the forum in 2004, has remained an active participant in its activities and has consistently contributed to discussions aimed at strengthening regional peace, stability and cooperation. Its continued engagement reflected Islamabad’s commitment to constructive diplomacy and its support for collective efforts to address common regional challenges through dialogue rather than confrontation.
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