By Ayiza Salman
Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR) hosted an interactive session on “Pakistan-ASEAN Relations: Road to Growth & Prosperity” in a local hotel in Karachi. Karachi based consul generals of ASEAN nations including Dr. June Kuncoro Hadiningrat, Consul General of Indonesia, Mr. Herman Hardynata Bin Ahmad, Consul General of Malaysia, Mr. Narut Soontarodom, Consul General of Thailand, Ms. Nguyen Thi Diep Ha, Head of Vietnam Trade Mission, and Dr. Imran Yousuf, Honorary Consul General of Philippines addressed the session.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) presents a prime example of regional prosperity and partnership in the southeast leg of Asia. However, its remarkable prospects for Pakistan make it a centre of focus for the country’s policy making experts. As a result, political commentators and analysts are discovering ways to capitalize on the potential of ASEAN as an emerging bloc of global trade, regional stability, and socioeconomic development to revitalize and recompense for the lost geopolitical edge of Pakistan in the international arena.
In the spirit of mobilizing Pakistan’s position in regional affairs via ASEAN, the leading figures of the country took multiple initiatives. Former Foreign Secretary, Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, held a meeting with the ASEAN Heads of Missions in Islamabad, and the country’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto, also reiterated his commitment towards bolstering ASEAN-Pakistan ties. Such diplomatic engagements seek to provide an impetus for Pakistan to reinforce its relations with ASEAN states on bilateral terms and multilateral forums.
Road to Growth and Prosperity
The most recent example of these outreach programs is a seminar conducted by Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR) on “Pakistan-ASEAN Relations: Road to Growth and Prosperity”. A group of Karachi based consul generals of ASEAN nations addressed the session and shared their insightful remarks on the critical role of ASEAN in regional dynamics, state of bilateral relations between Pakistan and ASEAN member states, and the possibilities of expanding avenues of multilateral collaboration between the two entities.
In particular, it is worth noting that the arrival of these esteemed figures along with the transparency in their speeches, and a solution-based optimistic take towards the future of ASEAN-Pakistan relations reflect that the possibilities of collective growth are endless.
Converging Visions
Despite its troubled and tarnished reputation in global politics, Pakistan has attempted to maintain its position as a neutral player in the region. With reference to the emerging conflicts in the region, Pakistan’s stance remains in the favour of stability, development, and integration of South Asia into a united front. Therefore, the desired foreign policy objectives of Pakistan align perfectly with the charter of ASEAN that calls for a politically secure, economically integrated, and socio-culturally thriving region.
Having a common ground of objectives and striving for the same outcomes can set a solid foundation for establishing a long-term relationship between Pakistan and ASEAN. Moreover, the non-interference policy of the ASEAN bloc further reinforces the chances of this alliance gaining momentum. After all, rather than meddling with conflicts, ASEAN offers avenues of productive engagement, people-to-people communication, and peaceful negotiations.
Dialogue-based Progress
The creation of ASEAN-Pakistan Sectoral Dialogue Relations was the primary turning point in the ties between the two parties. By creating a dialogue-based platform, Pakistan and ASEAN states can communicate across different areas of contention and points of collaboration.
For instance, as geo-economic alliances take the central stage, discussions about free-trade policies and export values can foster. Numerous business entities from both sides can also share their incentives for cross-border investment and present roadmaps for utilizing the full potential of their respective IT sectors.
Finally, the Sectoral Dialogue also fosters discussions about mitigating drug-trafficking, attracting tourism, improving human resource management, capitalizing on the core-competencies in agriculture, and expanding networks of transport and communication. These factors are direct contributors in fueling Pakistan-ASEAN relations.
Pillars of Cooperation
Pakistan’s continued efforts at maintaining active engagement and meaningful cooperation across all three pillars of ASEAN shows an unwavering commitment on both sides.
ASEAN-Political-Security Community recognises, condones, and reinforces Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and anti-human trafficking measures that play a crucial role in combating the endangered livelihood of ASEAN people.
Similarly, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), that represents a huge market of 600 million people and trillions of dollars in GDP, has the potential of making Pakistan a major trade partner in South Asia. By tapping into the potential of increased trade and investment, the two entities can pave the road for economic integration and strengthen global food security via agricultural exports of raw, value-added, and processed goods.
Finally, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) can foster mutual understanding and trust between the two parties. In addition to improving entrepreneurial exchanges and business interactions, Pakistan can particularly target the diverse faith-based communities in ASEAN countries to promote religious tourism. After all, Pakistan is home to the Buddhist temples and sufi shrines that can serve as ideal sights of attraction.
Environment-friendly Collaboration
Pakistan has an opportunity to strive towards a clean and sustainable future by partnering with ASEAN. Being at the receiving end of severe threats posed by climate change, Pakistan can view any impending catastrophe as its final wake-up call for collective action towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The blueprint for engagement in this environment-based sector can be found in the Bio-Circular Green Economy (BCG) model of sustainable growth followed by ASEAN. Such a prototype for clean and inclusive economic development can provide an impetus for Pakistan-ASEAN to achieve carbon-neutrality and capitalise on biodiversity to ensure sustainablity for the entire region.
Export Potential
The opportunity of mutually beneficial trade can be a significant driver of progressing ASEAN-Pakistan relations. As ASEAN member states continuously develop, they can compete for the markets of chemical, natural rubber, cinnamon, and cashew nuts in Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan can find a market for its agricultural produce like cotton, sea foods and fisheries, pharmaceuticals, textile, and even sport goods. If Pakistan eases its protectionary measures, it can streamline its lucrative trade with ASEAN which in turn can serve as a catalyst for sustained ties with this economic powerhouse.
Furthermore, Pakistan-ASEAN ties can serve as a strategic partnership for both parties. As the world embraces multipolarity and ASEAN stands at its centre, Pakistan can play a crucial role in providing a route that bridges the shift in geopolitical systems. For instance, Gwadar Port can grant ASEAN states access to the landlocked and resource-rich Central Asian countries. Hence, these ties can also serve as an extension for the CPEC project which can fuel the investments in energy sectors and IT industry.
However, what’s important to note is that the ASEAN countries are a hub for developing finished goods and exporting them to the leading economic players. Hence, ASEAN states can process Pakistan’s export of raw materials, trade the finished goods to the US and China, and bring Pakistan in the fold of the global value chain.
For a crisis-stricken country like Pakistan, discovering a sustainable opportunity is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. As rising economic trouble and political uncertainties continue to hit the country, Pakistan can expect increased isolation in a region that is otherwise thriving with geo-economic breakthroughs and alliances. On the other hand, ASEAN states are only expanding their network of cooperation. Hence, until ASEAN continues to invite Pakistan for socioeconomic exchanges rather than alienating it in the region, Pakistan must prove its willingness and commitment to this collaboration via effective policy making and continued diplomatic engagements.
Author is member of Youth Access Program of the Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR) and student of Institute of Business Management (IoBM). She can be reached at ayizasal@gmail.com
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance
