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Support for Pakistan's participation in ASEAN meet grows

The Philippines Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said today a campaign to invite Pakistan to an annual security forum between the Association of South East Asian Nations and twelve dialogue partners next month was gaining support.

Siazon said more members of the ASEAN Regional Forum, the sole conference tackling regional security issues, were backing the move to allow Pakistan to participate despite strong opposition from India.

Siazon refused to name the countries supporting Pakistan's participation. But he admitted that the Philippines is among those favouring the move due to concern over the six-week Kargil conflict.

Siazon said the ARF, which will be meeting in Singapore in July, will also tackle the recent developments in the Korean Peninsula, the rivalry between China and Taiwan, and the South China Sea territorial disputes.

UNI

The Kargil Crisis

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