12 May 2004	Wednesday	21 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

Yogyakarta, May 11: Southeast Asia has met India's preconditions to Pakistan becoming a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) - a regional gathering on security issues, a senior official said on Tuesday.

"Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda sent a letter to the Indian foreign ministry last week assuring them that Pakistan's entrance in ARF would not lead to the debate of bilateral issues such as Kashmir," said Makarim Wibisono, the foreign ministry's director general of Asian affairs.

"So the Indian concern has been addressed," he added. Pakistan has been seeking membership in ARF, the closest thing Asia has to a regional security council, for years. -dpa