ISLAMABAD, July 28: Pakistan is all set to sign a joint declaration on combating international terrorism with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Friday. The declaration will be signed by Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri on the margins of the 12th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting in Vientiane, Laos PDR, where he will be leading Pakistan’s delegation.

Cooperation on counter-terrorism with Asean would entail primarily intelligence-sharing, exchange of experts, delegations and holding of joint forums, it is learnt. Pakistan already has bilateral agreements on combating terrorism with seven of the 10 Asean member states.

“The signing of the joint declaration on combating terrorism would institutionalize cooperation with Asean and strengthen our engagement with the bloc on different planes,” foreign office spokesman Naeem Khan, who is also director-general East Asia and Pacific Division, told Dawn on Thursday.

The joint declaration would also raise Pakistan’s profile in the bloc, he said, pointing out that Islamabad accords highest priority to its relations with Asean. At the ARF meeting Pakistan’s request for full dialogue partnership with Asean is also expected to be taken up. According to diplomatic sources Islamabad has received positive feedback from all member states.

This would be the second major agreement between Asean and Pakistan after the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation which was signed last year. The treaty which governs ties among the members of Asean aims at enhancing political and security cooperation among members to promote regional peace and stability.

Pakistan formally proposed to ink the joint declaration with Asean early this year and submitted a draft to the Asean secretariat in Jakarta.