Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto received Pakistan's highest award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, from President Asif Ali Zardari during a state visit to Islamabad on December 9, 2025. The honor recognizes Prabowo's contributions to strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations. Bilateral meetings also discussed enhancing cooperation across various sectors.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, and was warmly welcomed by President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The two leaders shook hands and chatted lightly about the historic friendship between Indonesia and Pakistan, dating back to the era of President Soekarno. A Pakistani child presented a bouquet of flowers to Prabowo, adding to the atmosphere of hospitality.
Following the welcome, they proceeded to a meeting room on the fourth floor for official proceedings. First, a tête-à-tête discussed regional situations and partnership strengthening. This was followed by a bilateral meeting with delegations, affirming commitments to mutually beneficial relations for the peoples of both countries.
The highlight was the investiture ceremony for the Nishan-e-Pakistan in the Iqbal Room at Aiwan-e-Sadr. President Zardari, accompanied by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, personally pinned the highest honor on Prabowo. Established on March 19, 1957, the award recognizes exceptional services at national and international levels. Previous recipients include King Abdullah II of Jordan, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
The bestowal reflects Pakistan's recognition of Indonesia's strategic role in the Indo-Pacific and Prabowo's commitments to defense, economy, and Islamic world solidarity. The ceremony was attended by ministers, Pakistani parliament members, and ambassadors from friendly nations.
In a meeting with Sharif at the PM House, Prabowo instructed his ministers to develop new strategies to balance trade, currently dominated by Indonesian exports worth 4.5 billion USD, mainly palm oil. "I have instructed my ministers that we will soon balance our trade relations through concrete steps," Prabowo said. Sharif pledged exports of Pakistani agricultural products and information technology. The visit commemorates 75 years of bilateral relations, with seven MoUs signed in health, education, and culture.
