ISLAMABAD, 27 August 2026—The ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI) held its first meeting under the Philippine Chairship for July–December 2026 at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Islamabad, with Philippine Ambassador H.E. Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Chair of the ACI, hosting ASEAN Heads of Mission and members of the ACI Working Group.
The meeting brought together H.E. Colonel (R) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Ambassador of Viet Nam; H.E. Mr. Rongvudhi Virabutr, Ambassador of Thailand; Mrs. Ingan Malem, Minister Counsellor of Indonesia; Mr. Maung Maung Thwin, Deputy Chief of Mission of Myanmar; and Mr. Mohamad Alif Syafiq Bin Mohd Faudzi, First Secretary of Malaysia.
Members of the ACI Working Group also participated in the meeting, namely Mr. Chonnakant Lertsatit, Second Secretary of Thailand; Mr. Myo Kyaw Htun, Second Secretary of Myanmar; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duc, First Secretary of Viet Nam; Mrs. Shahida Binti Md Shoberi, Second Secretary of Malaysia; Mr. Raden Muhammad Ibrahim, Attaché of Indonesia; and Ms. Rain R. Mendoza, Third Secretary and Vice Consul of the Philippines.
In opening the meeting, Ambassador Fernandez expressed the Philippine Embassy’s appreciation to the Embassy of Indonesia and H.E. Ambassador Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo for Indonesia’s productive leadership of the ACI during the first half of 2026. He noted that the Philippines assumes the ACI Chairship at a significant time, as the country concurrently serves as ASEAN Chair for 2026 under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.”
Ambassador Fernandez presented for the Committee’s consideration a proposed programme of activities for the remainder of the Philippine Chairship, structured around the Philippines’ three strategic ASEAN priorities: Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors, and People Empowerment. He further emphasized that the proposed programme was intended not as a collection of stand-alone activities, but as an interconnected effort to build stronger links between ASEAN and Pakistan—among governments, businesses, young people, cultures, and communities.
The presentation was followed by an exchange of views among the ASEAN representatives on the proposed activities, their sequencing and implementation, coordination arrangements, and the way forward for the ACI during the remaining months of the Philippine Chairship. The Committee also considered initiatives intended to create greater institutional continuity and strengthen ASEAN’s collective capacity in Pakistan. These included a proposed publication on ASEAN–Pakistan relations that could serve as a reference for policymakers, diplomats, academics, journalists, students, and other stakeholders.
The Committee likewise discussed the continuing development and near completion of the ACI Contingency Plan, spearheaded by the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam, which seeks to strengthen coordination and preparedness among ASEAN Missions in Pakistan in responding to emergencies and other contingencies. It has been noted that the Plan has been further enhanced through broader coordination and the incorporation of additional security and intelligence inputs into its planning and assessment processes, contributing to a more comprehensive and informed framework for the safety and protection of ASEAN nationals in Pakistan.
Following the formal meeting and group photograph, the Ambassador and Madame Alicia-Kalaw Fernandez hosted the ASEAN Heads of Mission and ACI Working Group members for a luncheon at the Philippine Ambassador’s Residence, providing a more informal setting for continued discussion and fellowship.
The first ACI meeting under the Philippine Chairship reaffirmed the Committee’s collective commitment to strengthening ASEAN’s visibility and engagement in Pakistan and translating the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together” into practical initiatives that promote dialogue, prosperity, connectivity, cultural understanding, and stronger people-to-people relations between ASEAN and Pakistan. END
