ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the Arab Thought Forum (ATF), Jordan, held a bilateral meeting on Tuesday to review ways of strengthening institutional cooperation, expanding policy dialogue and pursuing joint research on matters of mutual interest.
The meeting was organised by ISSI’s Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA).
According to a press release, ISSI and ATF had signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2025, which laid down a framework for bilateral cooperation and institutional coordination. Tuesday’s meeting provided an opportunity to further build on that partnership and identify practical areas for sustained collaboration.
Ambassador Moin ul Haque, Director General ISSI, reaffirmed the longstanding bonds between Pakistan and Jordan and said Jordan held a special place in the hearts of the people of Pakistan. He referred to the close fraternal relations and longstanding engagement between the two countries at the highest levels.
He also underlined the need for closer cooperation on regional matters, particularly developments in the Middle East, which he said remained a shared concern for the Muslim world.
Dr Amani Ghazi Jarrar, Secretary General of the Arab Thought Forum, appreciated Pakistan’s ongoing role in the region. She stressed the importance of setting up a Pakistan-Arab strategic dialogue to enhance political engagement, deepen mutual understanding and promote greater cooperation on regional and international issues of common concern.
Dr Jarrar also identified four key pillars of cooperation: promoting human dignity and shared security; strengthening intellectual and institutional engagement; advancing strategic foresight and forecasting to deal with emerging regional challenges; and translating shared objectives into practical outcomes through collaborative research and policy-oriented initiatives.
The discussion also covered human dignity and the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine. Participants emphasised that both were fundamentally questions of people’s rights and political aspirations, and not merely territorial disputes.
Dr Amina Khan, Director CAMEA, and colleagues from the Centre also attended the meeting.
