Indonesia will no more equate Pakistan with India

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be attending India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2025 as the Chief Guest.

Thereafter his plan was to visit Islamabad. This would have given out an impression that both India and Pakistan are equal strategically.

However now Indonesia’s President has Cancelled his Pakistan Visit: This decision follows India’s diplomatic efforts to dissuade him from combining his trip to India with a subsequent visit to Pakistan, which India finds unacceptable due to its policy of de-hyphenation regarding relations with its neighbour.

The Indonesian President’s initial plan included traveling to Pakistan directly after New Delhi, but this changed following India’s formal expression of displeasure.

Indian officials communicated their concerns about the potential linkage between the two visits, emphasizing the importance of maintaining distinct diplomatic relations with both countries.

Instead of proceeding to Pakistan, President Subianto is now expected to travel to Malaysia after his visit to India.

This aligns better with India’s diplomatic preferences and ongoing defense negotiations between Indonesia and India.

Concurrently, Indonesia’s defence ministry has approached India for a INR 4000 crore loan aimed at purchasing BrahMos missiles from India.

This deal is significant as it reflects the strengthening defence ties between the two nations amid Indonesia’s growing military capabilities.

This situation illustrates the complexities of regional diplomacy and the strategic interests at play, particularly in light of Indonesia’s recent entry into BRICS and its implications for defence cooperation with India.