The book ‘Indonesia Pakistan Saga of Trusted Friendship in Changing East Asia’ precisely outlines the Indonesia-Pakistan relations which have passed through different phases since the independence of both the countries. It further tracks back to the pre-independence period when both the nations i.e., Indian and Indonesian Muslims supported each other in their respective cause of independence from their colonial masters. The Indian Muslim soldiers went a step ahead and fought the battle for Indonesia against Dutch armies and also refused to obey the command of their British masters, when they were deployed against Indonesian freedom fighters. This particular aspect connected both the nations in a strong bond even before their emerging as independent states on the map of the world. The efforts of Indian Muslims in achieving a separate Muslim state became successful before those of Indonesian Muslims and after its independence Pakistan played a vital role in support of Indonesian Muslims by sending troops to Indonesia and also by blocking the Dutch airline in Pakistan which was a means to supply arms to Dutch armies in Indonesia. A large number of Pakistani Muslim soldiers died in the war with Netherlands in Indonesia and those who survived preferred to stay there and passed rest of their life in Indonesia. The book reveals that the ties between both the countries are historical and cannot be overlooked in the formulation of foreign policy towards each other.
The book chalks out the ups and down of relationship between the two countries and also highlights the need and importance of strong ties between the two. Indonesia got independent on 27 December 1949 and Mr. Sukarno who also led the independence movement of Indonesia became its first President. President Sukarno in acknowledgment of Pakistani support to Indonesia developed a very friendly relation with Pakistan and both the countries enjoyed brotherly connections with each other. In the initial years after independence the leadership on both sides made efforts to strengthen the trade and industrial co-operation with each other and in 1960 President Ayub Khan and President Sukarno also signed an agreement to send Indonesian students nto Pakistani universities for education. Both the countries also agreed to establish direct shipping services and indentified items for export and import from each other. In the 1967-1968 agreements were signed to promote co-operation between radio and television corporations and news agencies. Pakistan as a gesture of respect dedicated some streets and roads in its different cities to President Sukarno. Sukarno tenure which continued till 1967 is considered to be the golden period in perspective of Indonesia-Pakistan relations in which heads of states of both the countries gave several visits to each other and explored new dimensions of relationship.
With the change of leadership in Indonesia in 1967 when President Suharto took over, the Indonesia-Pakistan relations took a new turn. However, there appeared no alarming change in the bilateral relations between the two states; however, Indonesia started showing its slight inclination towards India. In the same course when Pakistan faced the 1971 war with India, Indonesia preferred to take a non-partisan position into it and showed no support to Pakistan. While in the 1965 war of Pakistan, Indonesia provided full support to Pakistan. In 1972 Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Indonesia which helped to build confidence between the two countries again.
The book points out that after the Sukarno period Indonesia -Pakistan could never enjoy the same status of relationship again despite several attempts made by the Pakistani leadership. Those efforts resulted into the temporary outcomes but could not win a long standing confidence. The President Musharaf’s era is considered to be one of those periods in which the bonds were strengthened and the business relations between the countries were developed but it could not help Pakistan get ASEAN membership which Pakistan always tried to secure through Indonesian channel for its bearing an influential position amongst ASEAN countries. All through the period, Pakistani embassy in Indonesia has been making its exclusive efforts to improve the image of Pakistan in Indonesia by arranging cultural festivals and programs.
The author emphasizes that the present Pakistani government should also endeavor and take suitable measures to strengthen the ties with Indonesia and use its position to seek access to the ASEAN countries which can bring a drastic change in the trade activity of Pakistan resulting into the economic betterment of the country. He stresses that the personal attention of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif can prove to be of significant importance in this regard.
Title: Indonesia Pakistan Saga of Trusted Friendship in Changing East Asia’ | Author: Sanaullah | Genre: Non fiction | Pages: 254 | Price: Rs. 1000 | Publisher: Sh. Ghulam Ali & Sons (Pvt) Ltd.
