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.