Islamabad (TDI): Indonesia’s newly appointed Ambassador to Pakistan, Chandra Warsenanto, presented his credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday, reaffirming Jakarta’s commitment to enhancing bilateral ties with Islamabad.
At the ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Zardari congratulated the envoy and noted that Pakistan values its growing partnership with Indonesia, especially in trade, cultural diplomacy, and regional connectivity.
Ambassador Warsenanto also assumes the role of Chairman of ASEAN Countries in Pakistan, signaling Jakarta’s intent to play a greater role in linking Southeast Asia with South Asia.
President Zardari observed that Pakistan and Indonesia share not only common faith and cultural heritage but also a shared vision for regional peace and prosperity.
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Pakistan and Indonesia’s diplomatic relations stretch back to the early years after independence. The two countries stood together during the Bandung Conference in 1955, which laid the foundations of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Over the decades, cooperation has expanded in education, defense, and commerce. Bilateral trade has grown steadily, with palm oil, textiles, and machinery forming the core of exchanges. Both sides are also exploring new avenues in halal food production and IT services.
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With the new ambassador’s appointment, analysts expect renewed initiatives to expand trade, tourism, and educational exchanges, while Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship in Pakistan may help broaden Islamabad’s engagement with Southeast Asia.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
