Pakistan & Indonesia Relations

Pakistan aims for better relations with Indonesia beyond politics.

Pakistan is eyeing better relations with Indonesia beyond the political sector especially in the economic, cultural and tourism and military sectors, Pakistan Ambassador to Jakarta Maj. Gen. (ret) Ali Baz Khan said Tuesday.
Khan said the four sectors were his main objectives when assuming post as the ambassador to Jakarta, saying that the political and diplomatic relations "are very deep and cordial".
Speaking at a forum to Indonesian editors and business executives, Khan went into detail about how Indonesia and Pakistan have been helping each other since the dawn of both countries.
He told of a contingent of Punjabi soldier sent to Indonesia who revolted against the British Empire and instead "helping their Muslim brothers and sisters in Indonesia".
"The surviving soldiers never returned to Pakistan and there are three or four generations of them living in Indonesia," Khan said.
However, he said, there was still much that could be done in other sectors.
"Two years ago the trade value was just some US$400 to $500 million and currently reach some $870 million," Khan said.
"Both presidents Pervez Musharraf and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have agreed to increase the value to some $1 billion."
Khan was sure that once Pakistan and Indonesia signed a preferential trade agreement, the value would be reached.
He said that distance and the language barrier were two things that curbed trade the two countries.
"I always tell younger Indonesian to master English as it is widely spoken. Pakistani businesspeople speak English very well and they trade and invest where English is spoken.
"So Indonesians should learn and speak English more without forgetting Indonesian," he told the audience with a mix of English and Indonesian languages.
Having graduated from the Indonesian Army Staff College (Seskoad) in Bandung, Khan said he could still speak the language and maintained close contact with his Seskoad classmates, which includes Yudhoyono and secretary general of the defense ministry, Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
He also said that there were plenty of investment opportunities in Pakistan for Indonesian firms especially in the infrastructure sector such as water dams, electricity and housing.
"Both countries have same problems of unemployment, lack of infrastructure and education. Pakistan, however, have plenty of scientists," he said.
"We should share and exchange our knowledge."
The forum was jointly organized by the Communications and Information Ministry in cooperation with the Indonesian Journalists Association and the Confederation of Asian Journalists.