MANILA — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Manila on Wednesday to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting, the Foreign Office (FO) said.
Upon landing, Dar was received at the airport by Elmer G. Cato, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Intelligence and Security Services at the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Asima Rabbani and other senior diplomatic staff.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met Mr. Khalilur Rehman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and President-elect of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)… pic.twitter.com/Be8Y7VJ6pX
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 22, 2026
Multilateral Engagements and Regional Security
The 33rd ARF ministerial meeting has brought together foreign ministers and senior delegates from 27 member states as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General. The discussions are expected to focus on political and security developments in the Asia-Pacific region, with emphasis on advancing peace, stability, and cooperation through diplomatic channels.
Pakistan has been an active participant in the ARF since joining in 2004 and continues to contribute to regional security frameworks and joint programmes.
Key Bilateral Meetings on the Sidelines
During his stay in Manila, Deputy Prime Minister Dar held several high-level bilateral meetings with international counterparts and multilateral leaders:
| Official / Leader | Designation & Organization | Primary Focus of Discussions |
|---|---|---|
| Khalilur Rehman | Bangladesh FM & UNGA 81st Session President-Elect | Reviewed positive momentum in bilateral relations, highlighted enhanced people-to-people contacts, and welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi following a 14-year hiatus. |
| Sergey Lavrov | Foreign Minister of Russia | Reaffirmed joint commitments to expand cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and coordination across multilateral forums. |
| Leah Gutierrez | Director General, Central & West Asia Dept (ADB) | Discussed ADB’s development agenda in Pakistan and recognized the strategic contributions of Pakistani professionals working at the bank. |
Strategic Engagement at ADB Headquarters
In addition to his diplomatic engagements, Dar visited the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, where he signed the visitors’ book and reviewed ongoing development partnerships.
He expressed gratitude for the ADB’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic programmes and congratulated Nashita Mohsin on her appointment as Pakistan’s Executive Director to the ADB.
