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India opposes entry of Pakistan into ARF
Phnom Penh (Cambodia), June 18: India today opposed the entry of Pakistan into the biggest Asia-Pacific security forum, a senior Southeast Asian diplomat said. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha expressed his opposition during a debate on whether a moratorium on new membership should be lifted for the 23-member Asean Regional Forum (ARF).
Phnom Penh (Cambodia), June 18: India today opposed the entry of Pakistan into the biggest Asia-Pacific security forum, a senior Southeast Asian diplomat said. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha expressed his opposition during a debate on whether a moratorium on new membership should be lifted for the 23-member Asean Regional Forum (ARF).
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, quoted Sinha as saying there was a "need to consolidate the ARF before expansion. This is to promote efficiency, resiliency and uniqueness of the forum."
He suggested the issue of new membership be placed on the agenda of future ARF meetings, which includes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and 13 dialogue partners.
Some at the Phnom Penh ARF conference, including New Zealand and Australia, have endorsed extending the membership. Australia hopes to have East Timor admitted.
Asean members agreed Monday they wanted to let Pakistan join the forum, but it seemed unlikely a final decision would be taken in Phnom Penh.
Pakistan's entry should "for the time being, be kept under review," according to a draft of an ARF communique to be released after foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Colin Powell, end the conference.
The draft, which was obtained Tuesday by a news agency, also said applications from East Timor and Bangladesh would stay on hold for now, but it did not elaborate.
The draft communique praised the "positive initiatives taken by India and Pakistan toward the de-escalation of tensions" and expressed hopes that they "would contribute to the cessation of cross-border terrorism and the further improvement of the relations between them."
Bureau Report
He suggested the issue of new membership be placed on the agenda of future ARF meetings, which includes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and 13 dialogue partners.
Some at the Phnom Penh ARF conference, including New Zealand and Australia, have endorsed extending the membership. Australia hopes to have East Timor admitted.
Asean members agreed Monday they wanted to let Pakistan join the forum, but it seemed unlikely a final decision would be taken in Phnom Penh.
Pakistan's entry should "for the time being, be kept under review," according to a draft of an ARF communique to be released after foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Colin Powell, end the conference.
The draft, which was obtained Tuesday by a news agency, also said applications from East Timor and Bangladesh would stay on hold for now, but it did not elaborate.
The draft communique praised the "positive initiatives taken by India and Pakistan toward the de-escalation of tensions" and expressed hopes that they "would contribute to the cessation of cross-border terrorism and the further improvement of the relations between them."
Bureau Report