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Pakistan's bid to join Asean backed

ISLAMABAD, July 8: Myanmar has said it will support Pakistan's bid to
join the Asia-Pacific region's top security grouping, the ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF), the foreign ministry said here Tuesday.

The support was extended by visiting Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung
during talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, a
foreign ministry statement said.

Both the foreign ministers underlined the need for upgrading
Pakistan's economic ties with ASEAN countries, it said.

The Association of South East Asian Nations had, during its June 16
meeting in Pnomh Penh, agreed to lift the moratorium on ARF membership
to allow Pakistan to join the 23-member grouping but the move had been
blocked by India.-APP