President Prabowo Subianto Concludes Landmark Visit to Pakistan, Bolstering Bilateral Ties

Historic Visit Underscores Deepening Bilateral Relations

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto concluded a significant two-day official visit to Pakistan on December 9, 2025, aimed at strengthening the comprehensive bilateral cooperation between the two nations. The visit, which took place from December 8-9, 2025, was at the invitation of Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and held particular importance as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Pakistan.

Upon his arrival at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, President Prabowo was accorded a full military reception, including a 21-gun salute and an aerial escort by JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, a traditional honor reserved for heads of state. He was personally greeted by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Key Engagements and Agreements

During his stay, President Prabowo engaged in extensive delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Sharif and held meetings with President Zardari. He also met with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

A highlight of the visit was the conferment of the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan's highest civilian honor, upon President Prabowo by President Zardari, recognizing Indonesia's enduring friendship with Pakistan.

Discussions covered a wide array of sectors, including political, diplomatic, economic, trade, security, defense, cultural, education, scientific, and health cooperation. Both leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing high-level engagements and utilizing existing bilateral mechanisms.

• Economic Cooperation: Both sides agreed to upgrade the existing Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (IP-PTA) to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2027. They acknowledged that while bilateral trade has surpassed US$4 billion, significant untapped potential remains. Efforts will focus on balancing trade, which is currently heavily tilted towards Indonesian palm oil exports, and exploring new avenues in IT, mining, tourism, infrastructure, digital connectivity, and energy. The importance of the halal food industry and Islamic finance was also underscored.
• Defense Collaboration: Commitments were made to deepen defense cooperation through enhanced high-level military interactions, institutionalizing defense industrial cooperation, specialized training programs, and exchanges between military training institutions.
• Health and Education: Pakistan agreed to support Indonesia's health sector, particularly in addressing medical worker shortages. Cooperation in digital health, vaccine research, women and child health, and pharmaceuticals was discussed. Both countries also committed to strengthening academic collaboration, facilitating student exchanges, and supporting joint research initiatives.
• Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): Several agreements and MoUs were signed, covering areas such as higher education recognition, small and medium enterprise (SME) cooperation, archives, anti-narcotics collaboration, health cooperation, halal certification, and library and information management. Indonesia also announced a grant program for Indonesian Aid Scholarships.

Shared Values and Regional Stability

President Prabowo highlighted the shared values of Indonesia and Pakistan as two of the world's largest Muslim nations, upholding a 'moderate Islam that promotes inclusivity, tolerance, and historical ties'. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to working together for peace, stability, and prosperity, and discussed regional and international issues, including the Gaza Peace Plan.

The visit marks a significant step in reinforcing the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between Indonesia and Pakistan, laying the groundwork for expanded cooperation across various critical sectors.