KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's upcoming visit to Pakistan is expected to enhance bilateral relations between both countries, despite Malaysia's recent bid to join BRICS.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to visit Pakistan from Oct 2 to 4 as the two countries are keen to expand their relations in a wide range of areas.
"We consider Malaysia as our 'brotherly country'. The people of Malaysia as our brothers and sisters. Like we have relations with other countries, similarly Malaysia (have theirs)," said Pakistan's High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, dismissing concerns about Malaysia's involvement in the inter-governmental group, in which arch-rival India is one of the founding members.
Acknowledging India's significance to Malaysia, he added that the relationship "does not adversely affect our bilateral relations".
Ahsan clarified that Anwar's visit will in fact cover a range of international issues of mutual concern with Pakistan, with the Palestinian situation being a key topic.
"They met in Makkah a few months ago at the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) conference that was held on this issue, and they discussed it there," he said.
The high commissioner noted that Anwar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had developed a good rapport, having spoken "three to four times already" since April.
"I'm sure the warmth of the relationship between our two countries will be reflected in the personal relationship between our two leaders," Ahsan said.
On March 5, during a call by Anwar to congratulate Shehbaz on becoming Pakistan's 24th prime minister, Shehbaz invited Anwar to visit the South Asian country.
During the same call, the two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and the situation in Gaza.
As recently as 2019, Malaysia, who had close and longstanding relationships with both Pakistan and India, had encouraged the two countries to engage in dialogue and negotiations as tensions remained palpable in disputed Kashmir.