ASEAN mulls Pakistani role

ASEAN mulls Pakistani role

MANILA (Reuters): ASEAN foreign ministers are discussing whether to let Pakistan, heavily criticized for recent nuclear tests, become a member of its regional security group, Philippine President Fidel Ramos said yesterday.

"This is something that is ASEAN's decision to make...In ASEAN, we consult our partners. The consultation is going on among the foreign ministers," he told his weekly press conference.

The Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum which will hold its ministerial conference next month in Manila.

Pakistan set off its first nuclear device last month after neighboring India, which is a forum member, carried out its own nuclear tests.

The Philippines has joined several countries in condemning the tests by the two countries.