Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Pakistan on Monday to strengthen bilateral cooperation as Jakarta positions itself amid shifting regional and global geopolitical dynamics.
He landed at Nur Khan Base in Islamabad at noon local time, where President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed him with full military honors, including a ceremonial guard and a 21-gun salute.
Indonesia's Ambassador to Pakistan Chandra Warsenanto and Defense Attaché Infantry Colonel Henru Hidayat Susanto also attended the arrival ceremony.
Prime Minister Sharif had extended invitations for the visit twice — at the D-8 Summit in Cairo and during the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El Sheikh — signaling Pakistan's strong interest in advancing cooperation.
Indonesia views the visit as an opportunity to strengthen political, defense, and economic collaboration as both countries navigate evolving regional alignments and shared strategic interests.
Prabowo reiterated Indonesia's commitment to deeper collaboration, solidarity, and mutually beneficial partnerships with Pakistan and other friendly nations as part of its diplomatic agenda.
During the visit, he is accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya for a series of high-level engagements in Islamabad.
Recent cooperation has expanded across trade, public health, education, and cultural exchange, reflecting broader engagement beyond traditional diplomacy.
Last month, the national libraries of Indonesia and Pakistan signed an MoU on collection exchange, digitization, and capacity building as part of the 75th anniversary of bilateral ties.
In 2025, business leaders identified food security, energy security, health, and defense as priority sectors for future cooperation, marking rising economic ambitions.
Bilateral trade has grown steadily, covering commodities such as palm oil, textiles, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and halal food. The 2012 Preferential Trade Agreement helped boost trade from US$1.6 billion to US$4 billion in 2024.
Indonesia's embassy in Islamabad has encouraged businesses to explore new sectors, including pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, the digital economy, and agricultural technology, citing untapped potential in economic ties.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Anton Santoso
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