TRADITIONALLY and historically Malaysia and Pakistan are bonded by remarkable engagement in their relationship. The current visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Islamabad adds a new strength to Pak-Malaysian partnership beyond the horizon. Both sides are now engaged in multi-pronged web of cooperation ranging from trade and energy deal to the very arena of security and defence relations. Needless to say, a liberal Islamic ideology forms the very basis of this partnership.
Ideally both Kuala Lumpur and Islamabad value the importance of their respective roles in regions of South Asia and the ASEAN Group. Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia and is recognized as a heartland of the region. It comprises two main regions: Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, consisting of 13 states and three federal territories. Its geographical positioning, lying just north of the Equator, contributes to its unique cultural and natural diversity. Pakistan’s pivotal geostrategic location is at the intersection of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. This strategic position grants it access to key regions and resources, particularly as a gateway to the oil-rich countries of the Middle East and Central Asia.
Historically, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Malaysia’s independence. Malaysians have been playing diverse roles in their society, contributing to various fields including culture, politics and economics. The country is known for its rich mixture of cultures, which influences its arts, traditions and community life. Politically, Malaysia pursues an independent and principled foreign policy based on values like peace and justice, contributing to regional stability and development, especially within ASEAN. Pakistan and Malaysia established their diplomatic relations in 1957 following Malaysia’s independence. The two countries share deep-rooted historical ties, emphasized by high-level meetings and discussions between their leaders, focusing on their fraternal relationship and collaboration.
So far, both states have succeeded in forming a strategic partnership that is underpinned by mutual respect and shared interests. They signed the Malaysia–Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) in January 2008 to enhance trade relations. Periodically, Pakistan and Malaysia have developed strong economic ties, supported by trade agreements and cooperative initiatives in various sectors, such as textiles, agriculture and food production. Both countries continue to explore opportunities for investment and economic collaboration. In addition, Malaysia maintains a principled and consistent stance on the Palestinian cause, advocating for the rights of Palestinians and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The country is supportive of Palestinian sovereignty and expresses solidarity against the Western powers’ influence in the region. Regarding Kashmir, Malaysia has also shown support for the rights of Kashmiris and has called for peaceful negotiations to resolve the conflict, reflecting its commitment to justice and human rights on both fronts. And yet unsurprisingly, Pakistan and Malaysia share a longstanding security cooperation that includes various forms of collaboration such as exchanges, joint exercises, and training programs between their defence forces. Recently, both countries agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including defence. Foreseeably, Pakistan can enhance its connection to the ASEAN community where Pakistan shares around 90% of trade via Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Malaysia including other ASEAN countries, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia.
Moreover, Pakistan and Malaysia have been enhancing their security and defence ties, with both countries focusing on collaborative military training, joint exercises, and discussions related to regional security threats. This partnership aims to address common concerns and strengthen defence capabilities, as seen in their recent military dialogues and initiatives to bolster cooperation in various defence sectors. In this visit, Malaysian Prime Minister praised Pakistan’s defence forces for their role in promoting regional peace and stability. During Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahim’s recent talks with Pak Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, both sides emphasized the need to expand this strategic scope.
And above all, Islamic ideology forms the very basis of mutual understanding between the two States. Like Pakistan, Malaysia recognizes Islam as its official state religion and incorporates Islamic principles into its governance. However, the intent behind this establishment is not to create a theocracy; instead, it aims to reflect the nation’s cultural and historical context while maintaining a modern political system. Malaysia’s interaction between government, civil society, and Islam post-independence highlights the complex relationship between religion and state in achieving modernization without compromising democracy in the country. Malaysia recognizes Islam as its official state religion and incorporates Islamic principles into its governance. It aims to reflect the nation’s cultural and historical context while maintaining a spirit enshrined in modern interpretation political system, particularly Mahathir Mohamad’s vision of Malaysianism remained the pivot of the Malaysian development.
The latest visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Pakistan, at the invitation of PM Shehbaz Sharif, was a pivotal moment in strengthening bilateral ties. The visit focused on enhancing cooperation across key sectors, including trade, energy and agriculture. Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed to boost trade collaboration and expand telecommunication capacity, marking a significant step toward deepening the historic partnership between the two nations. In a reciprocal effort to further strengthen relations, PM Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Malaysia with a high-level delegation in the near future.
And yet, to address the contemporary challenges faced by Muslim world, there is an emerging need to form an OIC diplomacy crisis group —consisting Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Iraq and Bangladesh—in order to utilizing collective diplomatic endowment with regard to the ongoing war in Gaza and Indian atrocities in Kashmir. Similar to France’s stance on an arms embargo on Israel, Saudi Arabian leaders have recently called for aid to enter Gaza and for a cessation of arms exports to Israel, reflecting a desire for coordinated efforts to address the crisis.
—The writer, an independent ‘IR’ researcher-cum-international law analyst based in Pakistan, is member of European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on IR, Critical Peace & Conflict Studies, also a member of Washington Foreign Law Society and European Society of International Law. He deals with the strategic and nuclear issues.
