Historical Ties Strengthen Indonesia-Pakistan Relations

ARSIP KEDUTAAN BESAR PAKISTAN UNTUK RI

Pakistan's Ambassador to Indonesia Muhammad Hassan (left) meets with Vice President for the period 2004-2009 and 2014-2019 Jusuf Kalla at Jusuf Kalla's residence, Jakarta, to discuss bilateral relations between Pakistan and Indonesia, Thursday, October 21, 2021.

There are many expressions to describe the relationship between Pakistan and Indonesia. At least six phrases have been uttered by the Pakistani Ambassador to Indonesia Muhammad Hassan: special, warm, brothers, historic, mutual respect and mutual assistance. Before the two countries achieved their respective independence (Indonesia 1945, Pakistan 1947), relations between the two countries had been well established.

When discussing the relationship, the history of the closeness of Pakistan and Indonesia has never been forgotten. Indonesia always remembers that Pakistan's founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah sent around 600 soldiers to help Indonesian troops fight Dutch aggression. Pakistan will also not forget that President Sukarno helped them when Pakistan gained independence and was at war with India.

Islamabad also continues to remember that during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Indonesia sent two submarines to Karachi for almost two months to support Pakistan. Not surprisingly, security and defense cooperation continues to support the relationship between the two countries to this day, in addition to politics, economy, culture and tourism.

Pakistan wants to further enhance this relationship to make it even stronger.

"We have a memorandum of understanding in the field of defense. Officials visit each other and hold joint exercises. Pakistan wants to further enhance this relationship to make it even stronger," Hassan told Kompas in an interview on Monday (10/25/2021).

The position of the two countries is equally important to each other. Indonesia is one of Pakistan’s eight most important trading partners. The trade balances of the two countries increased fivefold in the last 1.5 decades from US$466.5 million in 2004 to about $2.6 billion in 2020. However, there is an imbalance in the trade balance as Indonesia still enjoys a big surplus.

For Indonesia, Pakistan is also an important trading partner. The country is the third-largest importer of Indonesia’s palm oil after India and China with a value of $1.6 billion (2020). “The value accounts for 90 percent of our palm oil imports. Imports of coal from Indonesia are also quite significant," said Hassan, who has been serving in Indonesia since 2020.

ARSIP KEDUTAAN BESAR PAKISTAN UNTUK RI

Pakistan's Ambassador to Indonesia Muhammad Hassan (third from left) met with officials from the West Java Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) in Bandung, West Java Province, 28-29 September 2021, and visited several companies (PT Bio Farma Tbk, PT Soka Cipta Niaga, PT Daese Garmin) to discuss the potential for economic cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan.

Challenge and hope

In the midst of increasing awareness of environmental issues and climate change globally, Hassan ensured that there was no change in policies in Islamabad regarding trade relations. The two main commodities of Indonesia are “strategic needs for industry or consumption", according to Hassan.

Hassan acknowledged there was a challenge in the Pakistan-Indonesia connectivity. These two countries in the region are not connected by, for example, direct air transportation. This has resulted in less intensive contact between citizens of the two countries and the lack of awareness of each other's potential.

However, Hassan hoped that this challenge must be overcome by increasing mutual visits between residents such as through tourism cooperation. He said Pakistan and Indonesia had similarities in the tourism sector such as in promoting religious tourism, cultural tourism and adventure tourism.

We are really looking forward to Indonesia playing a [mediator] role. It is not only greatly welcome but it has become a necessity

The proximity of Pakistan and Indonesia is also expected to have a positive impact on peace in the region and the world. The two countries are closely involved in peace efforts in Afghanistan. In March 2022, Pakistan will hold a conference on Afghanistan. Indonesia will be invited as one of the participants.

In South Asia, according to Hassan, Indonesia also has an important role in creating regional stability. He referred to his country's conflict with neighboring India. "Indonesia is one of the most important countries for South Asia," he said.

"[Indonesia] has good relations with India and Pakistan," he said. “We are really looking forward to Indonesia playing a [mediator] role. It is not only greatly welcome but it has become a necessity.”

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.