Pakistan, Indonesia sign agreements to boost trade, defense and education ties

Pakistan and Indonesia signed a series of agreements to expand cooperation in trade, defense, education, and other sectors, following a two-day official visit by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

President Prabowo visited Pakistan from Dec. 8-9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, marking a milestone as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.

During the visit, he held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, met President Asif Ali Zardari, and was received by Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. In recognition of his contributions to bilateral ties, President Zardari conferred Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, on Prabowo.

The discussions spanned political, economic, defense, cultural, educational, scientific, and health cooperation. Both sides highlighted the need for increased high-level engagement and effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms to strengthen ties.

Bilateral trade has exceeded $4 billion, but both governments acknowledged untapped potential. They agreed to convene the Joint Negotiations Committee to upgrade the current Preferential Trade Agreement to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2027, aiming for deeper concessions and removal of non-tariff barriers.

The talks also covered expanded collaboration in IT, cybersecurity, fintech, halal food, and Islamic finance, as well as investments in agriculture, mining, tourism, infrastructure, and energy. Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) will engage more closely with Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, to facilitate joint investment projects.

Defense cooperation featured prominently, with both countries agreeing to deepen military exchanges, defense industrial collaboration, and specialized training programs. Indonesia expressed interest in further collaboration on maritime and aviation training and welcomed ongoing defense education partnerships.

The two sides reaffirmed joint efforts against terrorism, violent extremism, and narcotics trafficking, and pledged to enhance cooperation in healthcare, including vaccine development, digital health, disease control, and maternal and child health. They also committed to strengthening climate resilience, disaster management, sustainable tourism, and academic collaboration through student exchanges and joint research.

Regional and global issues were also discussed. Pakistan briefed Indonesia on developments in Jammu and Kashmir, while both countries stressed the importance of multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations. They reiterated support for a peaceful resolution in Palestine based on the Two-State Solution and welcomed the Gaza Peace Plan. Indonesia welcomed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen ties with ASEAN and encouraged engagement through ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements were signed covering scholarships, higher education degree recognition, SME cooperation, archives, narcotics control, health, halal certification, and library collaboration.

President Prabowo expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by the government and people of Pakistan, describing the visit as a meaningful step in further deepening bilateral ties.