Islamabad: Pakistan and the European Union have pledged to further enhance their engagement, expanding their partnership across various sectors. This commitment was made during the 8th Pak-EU Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Kaja Kallas, held in Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, the discussions between the two sides covered a comprehensive range of topics, including trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, migration, and multilateral cooperation. The parties also exchanged views on regional and global developments.
In a joint press statement, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar highlighted the progress made under the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. The plan encompasses sectors such as trade, investment, development, human rights, rule of law, migration, mobility, security, and counter-terrorism. Emphasizing the importance of trade, Dar noted that the EU is one of Pakistan's major trade partners, with a trade volume of approximately twelve billion Euros. He praised the Pakistan-EU trade cooperation under the GSP Plus framework as a win-win template and expressed optimism for further enhancing bilateral trade and investment ties.
Dar also addressed regional and global issues, including the US-Iran conflict, security situations in South Asia, Afghanistan, Europe, and the Middle East. He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to finding a comprehensive solution to the US-Iran conflict and emphasized Pakistan's concerns over unprovoked Indian aggression, particularly regarding the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He advocated for its resolution in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
The Deputy Prime Minister also discussed Pakistan's position on the Indus Water Treaty, following the Court of Arbitration's award in disputes related to the Ratle and Kishenganga Hydroelectric Projects. He underscored the treaty's limits on India's water control capabilities on the western rivers.
Security issues, including terrorism and the presence of hostile elements on Afghan soil, were also on the agenda. Dar identified these as top concerns due to their continued attacks against Pakistan.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas recognized Pakistan as a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union. She affirmed the shared commitment to strengthening EU-Pakistan ties, particularly in trade, where there is strong momentum. Kallas noted that Pakistan remains the largest export destination for the EU and is a leading beneficiary of EU trade preferences, the GSP+.
Kallas also highlighted the deepening cooperation on issues such as climate resilience, digital infrastructure, clean energy, migration, and mobility. She emphasized the significance of people-to-people links as part of the partnership. Additionally, she acknowledged Pakistan's role as a mediator between the United States and Iran, recognizing its diplomatic efforts in preventing escalations into full-blown conflicts.