New Delhi: In an indicator of Indo-Pak ties moving in the right direction, Pakistan has assured the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) that it will not raise Kashmir and other outstanding issues with India at the forum, a step that may pave the way for Islamabad's entry into the key security grouping.

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Pakistan's pledge against raising the Kashmir and other bilateral issues at ARF was conveyed to Indonesia through a letter ahead of the senior officials' meeting of the 23-member ARF in Jakarta from May 11 to discuss among other issues, the lifting of the moratorium on membership of the security grouping.

Indonesia is the current Chairman of the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

The officials will consider entry of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Timor Leste in the regional grouping, official sources said today (May 8, 2004).

On his part, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Warijuda informed his Indian counterpart Yashwant Sinha of Pakistan's promise.

Pakistan has also expressed its keenness to promote the process of composite dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues.

Welcoming the Pakistani stand, the sources said India is "likely to be flexible" on the issue of lifting moratorium on ARF membership and admission of Pakistan.

New Delhi views the Pakistani assurance as a positive signal that shows improvement in bilateral process with India.

Pakistan has been keen to gain entry into the ARF. Last year, the ASEAN foreign ministers had recommended lifting of the moratorium on membership but the ARF ministerial meeting in June had failed to reach any conclusion on it.

India had earlier conveyed to Pakistan as well as the ARF members about its concerns with regard to Islamabad's "practice" of raking up the Kashmir issue at multilateral fora, the sources said.

On the issue of imposing geographical limits for membership of ARF, the sources said this has to be decided by the grouping.