ISLAMABAD, July 8: Myan-mar has said it will support Pakistan’s bid to join the Asia-Pacific region’s top security grouping, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the foreign ministry said here Tuesday.

The support was extended by visiting Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung during talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, a foreign ministry statement said.

Both the foreign ministers underlined the need for upgrading Pakistan’s economic ties with ASEAN countries, it said.

The Association of South East Asian Nations had, during its June 16 meeting in Pnomh Penh, agreed to lift the moratorium on ARF membership to allow Pakistan to join the 23-member grouping but the move had been blocked by India.—APP