Indonesia-Pakistan Look to Deepen Ties as New Ambassador Takes Office

Islamabad: On Friday afternoon, August 22, 2025, Indonesian Ambassador Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo formally presented the Letter of Credence from President Prabowo Subianto to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari.

With this presentation, the former Commander of the Indonesian Army Military Police Center officially assumes his role as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Accompanied by his wife, Tamara Yuanita Sukotjo, Ambassador Chandra—dressed in the traditional Teluk Belanga attire—departed from the Indonesian Embassy Residence in Islamabad to the Aiwan-e-Sadr Presidential Palace.

Upon arrival, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was received by the Chief of State Protocol and escorted in a horse-drawn carriage to the palace courtyard, where he was accorded military honors.

During his meeting with President Zardari, the Indonesian envoy conveyed warm greetings from President Prabowo and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

President Zardari expressed his wish to visit Indonesia. “I would very much like to meet my friends in Indonesia,” said Zardari, who is also the widower of the late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Since his arrival in Islamabad in July as Ambassador-designate, Chandra has been actively engaged in various activities, including enhancing defense cooperation, marked by the mid-July 2025 visit of Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to Pakistan.

He has also participated in meetings with the Indonesian community, strategic think tanks, the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI), and economic cooperation initiatives with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

Support for boosting Indonesia–Pakistan economic ties has also come from Pakistani business circles. A day before the credential ceremony, the Indonesian envoy was invited to a working dinner hosted by the CEO Club, which was attended by Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarrar.

“Indonesia is the largest economy in ASEAN, with tremendous potential. With Pakistan’s increasingly positive economic indicators, the country is ready to expand cooperation with close partners like Indonesia,” Tarrar told Ambassador Chandra, fellow diplomats, and dozens of leading Pakistani business leaders.

Echoing this, CEO Club Pakistan President and Founder Ijaz Nisar stressed the importance of the “Look East” vision. “Pakistan needs to strengthen its outlook toward the East, particularly by engaging with Indonesia,” Nisar said.

Last year, Nisar, along with dozens of Pakistani business leaders, visited Indonesia to attend the 2024 Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) in BSD, Banten, as well as the CEO Summit in Bali.