Pakistan off ASEAN guest list

Pakistan off ASEAN guest list

MANILA (Reuters): The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has decided not to invite Pakistan to a ministerial conference in Manila next month, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon said yesterday.

Siazon, who chairs the regional security meeting, said Pakistan's nuclear rival and ARF member India and several other ARF members were against the idea of inviting Pakistan, even as a guest at an informal dinner.

Pakistan is one of several countries to have applied to join the forum which tackles political and security issues in East Asia.

The ARF comprises the nine member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the rotating chair country of the European Union.