India has no objections to Pakistan joining ARF

India has no objections to Pakistan joining ARF

JAKARTA (JP): Indian foreign minister I.K. Gujral said
yesterday that his country has no objection to Pakistan joining
the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Gujral said at the ASEAN Secretariat that the issue is really
between Pakistan and ASEAN. Nevertheless, he said that India
would not obstruct Pakistan's admission.

"We will never stand in the way of anybody else joining,"
Gujral said.

India was elevated by ASEAN leaders during the Bangkok Summit
in December from sectoral dialog partner to full dialog partner.
It will participate for the first time in the ARF being held
today at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Pakistan has also requested that its dialog relations be
elevated to the same level as India in order for it to
participate in the ARF.

The two countries have had a contentious relationship for
several years and have fought several wars in the past.

He said that India has always had good relations with the
individual ASEAN states, but said that the new status will allow
for deeper cooperation in other fields.

"I feel very honored," said Gujral of India's participation
in the meeting today.

Later in the afternoon, ASEAN Secretary-General Ajit Singh
also was paid a courtesy call by Russian foreign minister Y.
Primakov.

Russia, previously a consultative dialog partner, has now been
received as a full dialog partner and will take part in the ARF.

"We're going to be active participants to the dialog,"
Primakov told Ajit Singh.

The Russian foreign minister added that Russia has the
potential to contribute to stability in the region and further
expressed his pleasure at seeing the peace being maintained.
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