Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, security, prosperity highlighted at ASEAN regional forum

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia & Pacific), Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, represented Pakistan at the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the Ministerial Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Ambassador Siddiqui appreciated ARF’s pivotal role in multilateral efforts for regional peace and prosperity, according to a statement issued on Sunday.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Regional Forum’s mandate, he emphasized the importance of international collaboration for shared objectives of stability and sustainable prosperity. Stressing the need for an equitable and inclusive security framework, the Additional Foreign Secretary underscored the importance of resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people for lasting peace and security in South Asia.

Ambassador Siddiqui condemned the rising tide of Islamophobia and pursuance of Islamophobic political agenda as strategies in election campaigns. He emphasized the importance of comprehensive approaches to address the root causes of terrorism. He also called for international scrutiny and accountability for extraterritorial killings by foreign agents inside Pakistan. The Additional Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent and principled stance on the Palestinian question and called for an urgent and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and an end to foreign occupation of Palestinian territories.