Islamabad: Pakistan has "regretted" India's opposition to its membership of the high-profile security club Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in the light of peace initiatives undertaken by the two countries.

"In view of the recent positive initiatives taken by Pakistan and India to normalise their relations, Pakistan along with other ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) members had hoped that India would play a constructive and responsible role rather than impede Pakistan's membership of the Forum," a Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying in a statement on June 19 night.

Regretting that ARF could not admit Pakistan as a member in its 10th meeting at Phnom Penh because of India's strong opposition to its candidature, the official said, "This is despite the fact that Pakistan's entry into the Forum enjoys overwhelming support by ARF members."

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Singh said at the ARF meeting in Phnom Penh that the issue of lifting a moratorium on expansion was not on the agenda and there was a need for more discussions.

The official said Pakistan attaches importance to the ARF's aims and objectives of regional peace and security, as well as counter terrorism and hoped that it would soon become a member of the Forum.

PTI