The 24th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), heads of defense universities, colleges, and institutions (HDUCI) ended at National Defense University (NDU) Islamabad from 4-7 October. 

The forum was chaired by NDU Pakistan and co-chaired by NDU Malaysia. The 21 countries attended the event on campus in NDU Islamabad and virtually through video-link. 

Defence Minister Pervez Khattak visited the forum.  Defence Minister was welcomed by President NDU Lieutenant General Muhammad Saeed. 

Defence Minister highlighted the purpose of the event and emphasized the importance of cooperation in security studies, peacebuilding, and research for futuristic confidence-building in the region.

He reiterated that Pakistan firmly stood by the global and regional institutions and states to bring sustainable peace in the region and beyond. Pakistan’s contribution to the global war against terrorism is a clear reflection of our desire for peaceful resolution of all disputes, and that Pakistan is opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Later, military leaders and scholars from different defence institutions from ARF countries delivered presentations on the given themes and topics.