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.