India: Pakistan's inclusion in ARF OK

India: Pakistan's inclusion in ARF OK

INDIA: India has dropped its objection to the admission of Pakistan into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF), it was reported on Saturday

The move came after Islamabad gave an assurance that it would not raise contentious bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, at the meetings of the grouping, the news agency UNI reported quoting official sources.

The ARF provides a security umbrella for 23 countries.

"Given Pakistan's assurance, our position on lifting the moratorium on ARF membership and admission of Pakistan in the body is likely to be flexible," official sources told UNI. --DPA