Prabowo Receives Full State Honors in Islamabad as Pakistan Pledges Doctors and Deeper Strategic Ties

ISLAMABAD, Investortrust.id — President Prabowo Subianto received full state honors in Islamabad on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2025 as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed him at PM House and pledged broad strategic cooperation, including sending Pakistani doctors to help Indonesia address a national shortage and expand its medical-education capacity. Sharif also referenced celebrated Indonesian poet Sapardi Djoko Damono as he highlighted the warmth shaping the two nations long diplomatic relationship.

Prabowo was greeted with a ceremonial welcome featuring both national anthems, a guard inspection, and the introduction of the two countries delegations before he and Sharif entered a tete-a-tete discussion on strengthening ties across health, agriculture, technology, trade, education, and foreign policy.

Sharif said Pakistan was ready to immediately dispatch medical doctors, dentists, professors, and specialists to Indonesia to support the country’s effort to expand its medical faculties. “We will be very happy to send doctors, dentists, medical professors, and other experts from Pakistan to Indonesia to help realize your dream of building medical faculties and universities there,” he said. “This comes from sincerity, not routine protocol.”

He underscored that the offer would be carried out without delay. “Whatever is possible for us in this regard, we will do it with happiness and without hesitation,” Sharif noted, reaffirming health cooperation as a near-term priority.

Sharif also cited poet Sapardi Djoko Damono, saying the poet’s reflection on “warmth that lives in sincerity” captured the tone of the visit. “This warmth comes from sincerity, not protocol,” he said, adding that Pakistan intended to embody that sincerity “even as the weather becomes colder in Islamabad.”

Prabowo welcomed the commitment, saying Indonesia urgently needed more physicians and dentists. He emphasized that Pakistan’s assistance would directly support Indonesia’s national health-sector strategy. “I am very happy and grateful Pakistan is willing to help us by sending doctors, professors, and experts,” he said. “We have a major need for doctors and dentists, and I am initiating a large-scale education program. Your support will be strategic and crucial for us.”

Earlier in the day, Prabowo planted a chir pine tree in the gardens of PM House, symbolizing hopes for a long-term partnership. The ceremony took place after the delegation introductions, which included senior Indonesian officials such as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Foreign Minister Sugiono.

Sharif said Prabowo’s visit was historically meaningful as the first Indonesian presidential visit to Pakistan in seven years, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He called Indonesia a close partner with deep ties that pre-dated both nations independence movements. “Indonesia stood firmly with Pakistan, and this has been recorded in history in golden words,” Sharif said.

The Pakistani leader praised Prabowo as “a capable and dynamic leader of the world’s largest Muslim nation,” adding that the ceremonial fighter-jet escort of Prabowo’s aircraft was offered “from the sincerity of our hearts, not as a routine procedure.”

Sharif said the talks produced progress on rebalancing the bilateral trade relationship, currently valued at US$4.5 billion and dominated by Indonesia’s exports, particularly palm oil. He said both sides discussed expanding Pakistan’s agricultural exports and IT-driven initiatives to create a more balanced partnership.

During the joint statement, Prabowo highlighted shared values as two large Muslim nations practicing moderate, inclusive Islam. “Our Islam is a moderate Islam that encourages inclusivity and tolerance,” he said. He noted that cooperation should extend to future generations. “It is important that we use this history and our fraternal ties to benefit our people in many fields.”

The day concluded with a state luncheon hosted by Sharif, following the signing of several memorandums of understanding in areas such as health, education, agriculture, trade, and technology. Both leaders expressed confidence that the visit would elevate Indonesia–Pakistan cooperation to “a much higher level.”