Islamabad, September 1, 2026: The Embassy of the Philippines hosted the first meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI) under the Philippine chairship for July-December 2026, bringing together ASEAN Heads of Mission and members of the ACI Working Group to discuss the Committee’s activities for the remainder of the year.
Chaired by Philippine Ambassador Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, the meeting was attended by representatives of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Ambassador Fernandez thanked Indonesia for its leadership of the ACI during the first half of 2026 and presented the Philippine chairship’s proposed programme of activities, guided by the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” and its three strategic priorities: Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors and People Empowerment.
Ambassador Fernandez emphasised that the objective was not simply to organise individual activities but to build stronger and lasting connections among governments, businesses, young people, cultures and, ultimately, the peoples of ASEAN and Pakistan.
The Committee also discussed longer-term initiatives, including a proposed publication on ASEAN-Pakistan relations and the near completion of the ACI Contingency Plan spearheaded by Brunei Darussalam.
The Contingency Plan is being further enhanced through broader security coordination and additional intelligence inputs aimed at strengthening the collective preparedness of ASEAN missions and protection of ASEAN nationals in Pakistan.
The formal meeting was followed by a luncheon hosted by Ambassador Fernandez and his wife, Madame Alicia Kalaw-Fernandez, at the Philippine Ambassador’s Residence, where ASEAN colleagues continued their discussions in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie.
Through its ACI chairship, the Philippines said it looked forward to working closely with fellow ASEAN missions to translate “Navigating Our Future, Together” into meaningful initiatives aimed at bringing ASEAN and Pakistan closer and creating greater opportunities for cooperation.
“one ASEAN. Stronger connections. Shared opportunities. A future navigated together.”
