Jokowi back home from tour of South Asian countries

President Joko Widodo and Mrs. Iriana Jokowi took umbrella when they arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, on Tuesday, at 05.20 WIB after a five-nation tour in South Asia. (ANTARANews/Biro Pers Setpres)

Jakarta (Antaranews Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana Jakowi and entourage returned on Tuesday from a tour of five South Asian nations -- Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Palace spokesman Bey Machmudin said the president landed at Jakarta`s Halim Perdanakusuma airport at 05.20 local time when rain poured on the city.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Minister at the State Secretariat Pratikno, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Military Chief Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, and other military leaders, Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan were on hand to welcome the president and the first lady.

Jokowi and his entourage ended the tour of South Asia with less than a day long visit on Monday in Kabul, which was only a few days earlier rocked by terrorist suicide bombs.

The presidential aircraft took off from Kabul`s International Airport of Hamid Karzai at 17.25 local time on Monday stopping in at Dhaka , Bangladesh for fueling .

In India, the president attended the ASEAN-India summit meeting.

In Pakistan, the president told Indonesian community that his South Asian visit was to give balance that as the world`s largest Muslim country , Indonesia needs to show special attentions to Middle East and large Muslim nations in South Asia.

The presidential entourage also included Coordinating Minister for Economy Darmin Nasution, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Coordinator of Presidential Special Staff Teten Masduki, head of the presidential secretariat Heru Budi Hartono, and a number of other state officials. (WDY)