Pakistan Envoy Sees Indonesia Driving More Dynamic D-8 Despite Summit Delay

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, expressed confidence that Indonesia’s chairmanship of the Developing Eight (D-8) will inject new energy into the organization, even as the upcoming summit has been postponed.

“Indonesia remains committed to leading the D-8 toward becoming a more active and dynamic body,” Chaudhri said in Jakarta on Thursday, March 26, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He acknowledged the delay of the summit due to ongoing geopolitical tensions but voiced hope that the conflict would be resolved soon, allowing the meeting to take place in Jakarta.

On March 13, 2026, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the D-8 Summit would be postponed until further notice. Director of Multilateral Cooperation Tri Tharyat explained that Foreign Minister Sugiono had formally notified member states of the decision, citing instability in the Middle East.

“The timing is not yet right. We will discuss the next date in detail once the situation develops further,” Tri said.

The ministry noted that the decision followed consultations with the D-8 Secretary-General, commissioners, and ambassadors of member states. Indonesia currently holds the D-8 chairmanship for 2026–2027 under the theme “Navigating Global Shifts: Strengthening Equity, Solidarity, and Cooperation for Shared Prosperity”.

The D-8 is an economic cooperation organization comprising Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. Azerbaijan joined as the newest member in December 2024.

The summit delay comes amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. On February 28, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint strike by the United States and Israel, along with senior officials and hundreds of students. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. military assets across the region and closing the Strait of Hormuz, a move that triggered a surge in global oil prices. ***