Relationship dossier
Malaysia
Pakistan
Relationship assessment
A cooperative partnership supported by trade and defense arrangements
Malaysia toward Pakistan
+45Malaysia has pursued bilateral trade cooperation with Pakistan through the Malaysia–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement and has engaged in defense cooperation with Pakistan. These arrangements indicate substantive government-to-government ties.
Pakistan toward Malaysia
+45Pakistan has participated in bilateral trade cooperation with Malaysia through the Malaysia–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement and has engaged in defense cooperation with Malaysia. These arrangements indicate substantive government-to-government ties.
Overall relationship
+45The relationship is supported by a bilateral free trade agreement and defense cooperation, giving it a durable basis beyond formal diplomatic ties. These arrangements point to a substantially cooperative relationship, although the extent and practical results of cooperation are not fully clear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Malaysia and Pakistan have maintained a broadly cooperative relationship, including a bilateral free trade agreement and defense cooperation. The partnership has also included high-level engagement and trade ties, though the depth and implementation of cooperation across sectors are not fully clear.
Key developments
Malaysia and Pakistan signed a bilateral free trade agreement, establishing a framework for trade cooperation.
Malaysia and Pakistan have pursued bilateral defense cooperation, including military engagement and training.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral defense cooperation are unclear.
- The extent to which the free trade agreement has expanded trade beyond its formal provisions is unclear.