Pakistan said it 'regretted' India's opposition to its membership of the high-profile security club ASEAN Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

"In view of the recent positive initiatives taken by Pakistan and India to normalise their relations, Pakistan along with other ARF Members had hoped that India would play a constructive and responsible role rather than impede Pakistan's membership of the Forum," a Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying in a statement in Islamabad on Thursday night.

Despite heavy lobbying, Pakistan could not ensure a consensus that would have allowed the 23-member key security group on expanding its membership.

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Singh, at the ARF meeting in Phnom Penh, said the issue of lifting a moratorium on expansion was not on the agenda and there was a need for more discussions.

The foreign ministry official said, "This is despite the fact that Pakistan's entry into the forum enjoys overwhelming support by ARF members."

The official said Pakistan attaches importance to the ARF's aims and objectives of regional peace and security as well as counter terrorism and hoped that it would become a member soon.