The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in Bangkok on 8 August 1967[1]. Today, it espouses the far-reaching vision of “One Vision. One Identity. One Community[2]“. As ASEAN celebrates its 58th anniversary, it is an opportune moment to re-evaluate Pakistan-ASEAN relations and consider new horizons for its expansion.
Pakistan became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) of ASEAN in 1993[3] and since then has maintained a steady relationship with the Organization. Initially, the SDP focused on eight areas – including trade, investment, industry, environment, science and technology, drug enforcement, tourism, and human resource development[4]. Given Pakistan`s location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, a vast potential exists to expand mutually-beneficial collaboration with ASEAN beyond trade and investment. Against the backdrop of the fast-changing global power balance and the increasing pace of technological changes, there is a prospect to take the ASEAN-Pakistan cooperation to a new level – focused on institutional cooperation, technology-based partnership, and common development goals.
