With Indonesia under President Prabowo taking on an increasingly prominent regional role, Pakistan seeks to deepen engagement not just in economic cooperation, but in strategic partnership
Ansar M Bhatti
ISLAMABAD: The President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, is tentatively scheduled to visit Pakistan in the second week of December, according to sources at the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The planned state visit, which was postponed earlier for undisclosed reasons, is being viewed as a major opportunity to deepen the already close bilateral ties between Islamabad and Jakarta.
Foreign Office officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that President Prabowo’s trip will focus on strengthening political, economic, and strategic cooperation. “Both countries are trusted friends, and this visit could catalyze new agreements,” one senior diplomat said. Pakistan hopes to leverage the visit to reinforce cooperation in key areas such as trade, defense, and infrastructure.
According to the sources, the rescheduling of the trip had been due to logistical and timing issues. But with the December window now under consideration, the Pakistani government is expressing optimism of a positive outcome. Several senior Pakistani officials have begun preliminary planning for bilateral meetings, and a formal agenda is expected to be announced once the dates are finalized.
Analysts view the visit as especially timely. With Indonesia under President Prabowo taking on an increasingly prominent regional role, Pakistan seeks to deepen engagement not just in economic cooperation, but in strategic partnership. Islamabad sees Jakarta as an important partner in Southeast Asia, and hopes to tap into its growing diplomatic influence.
From the Indonesian side, sources suggest that President Prabowo may raise issues such as trade imbalance, mutual investment opportunities, and greater people-to-people exchange. Pakistan, for its part, is expected to press for increased Indonesian investment, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Diplomatic insiders in Islamabad say that Pakistan officials are particularly hopeful that the visit will produce landmark agreements — possibly memorandums of understanding — that could unlock new phases in bilateral ties. “There is a growing recognition in both capitals that this is not just a ceremonial visit but one with real substance,” remarked one senior aide.
If the visit goes ahead as expected, it would mark one of the highest-level exchanges between the two countries in recent years. Islamabad is preparing to accord the Indonesian president a warm welcome, with ceremonies, diplomatic receptions, and high-level meetings lined up.
The trip of President Prabowo Subianto is being closely watched in both countries as a defining moment to cement Pakistan–Indonesia friendship and chart a forward-looking roadmap for cooperation.
