KARACHI: The Indonesian Government is willing to join the Istanbul Pact (R.C.D.) on regional co-operation for development, recently signed by Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, Indonesian Embassy sources in Karachi yesterday said.

They said the Indonesian Government considers the pact as a “very constructive approach” towards regional co-operation in Asia, and would give serious thought to any proposal that may be made by Pakistan in this regard. So far, no formal approach has been made by any of the three existing participants in the pact.

In fact, they added, Indonesia would welcome any move from Pakistan for co-operation in the field of economic development outside the sphere of the de­­fence pacts. In this connection, they referred to the cur­­rent efforts being made by Pakistan and Indonesia to improve their trade relations, and the proposed visit to Pakistan by a delegation from Indonesia.

They were asked to comment on Mr. Bhutto’s remarks in Dacca earlier that chances of a South-East Asian country joining the Istanbul Pact were quite bright. Mr. Bhutto had based his “forecast’” on the assumption that there was a growing realisation in South-East Asia of the fact that the Istanbul accord was outside the ambit of any alliance, like the CENTO.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014