Islamabad to join Asean forum

Published June 17, 2003

PHNOM PENH, June 16: Pakistan is to be admitted to the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) next year, group’s current chairman said on Monday, bringing the Islamic state into a common security grouping with India.

“We decided to accept Pakistan into ARF,” Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters after discussions in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh with foreign ministers of the other nine Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) members.

The ARF, which is to hold its annual meeting in Cambodia on Wednesday, comprises Asean and 13 other members, including the United States, the European Union, India and North Korea.—Reuters

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