European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Pakistan a major regional power and an important partner during a visit to Islamabad on Monday. She co-chaired the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Kallas serves as vice-president of the European Commission and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. She visited at Dar’s invitation. The strategic dialogue is the highest-level platform for structured talks between the two sides.
“Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union,” Kallas said at a joint press conference. She said both sides reaffirmed a commitment to strengthening ties. She said the visit came at an important moment and noted the world and the region had gone through changes since the two sides last met in November.
Kaja Kallas Highlights EU-Pakistan Trade Ties
Kallas said the European Union remains Pakistan’s largest export destination, larger than China and the United States combined. She said Pakistan is the leading beneficiary of the EU’s GSP+ trade preferences.
She said continued preferential access to the EU market depends on progress in implementing the international conventions that underpin the GSP+ scheme. Dar described trade cooperation under GSP+ as a win-win template and said discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade and investment.
Both sides reviewed progress under the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan of 2019. The plan covers trade, investment, development, human rights, rule of law, migration, mobility, security, and counterterrorism. Dar called the dialogue the highest institutionalized forum between Pakistan and the EU. He said the two sides had kept a six-month interval between rounds of talks.
EU Praises Pakistan Regional Diplomacy Role
The two diplomats exchanged views on regional and global developments, including tensions involving the United States and Iran. Kallas said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts helped prevent a return to full-blown war in the region.
Dar said both sides stayed in close contact during recent regional developments, including the Pakistan-India tensions and the US-Iran conflict. He described Kallas as a frequent interlocutor.
Kallas said any temporary truce in the region must evolve into broader negotiations that address Iran’s nuclear programme and regional stability. She said the EU stands ready to contribute through diplomacy, economic tools, and maritime engagement. She acknowledged Pakistan’s security challenges and said every country has the right to defend its citizens in line with international law. She said restraint and dialogue were important to prevent further instability.
During the visit, Kallas was scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the country’s military leadership. She was also set to meet think tanks, academia, and civil society representatives. Shehbaz Sharif met Kallas at the PM House. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to cooperation with the EU and thanked the bloc for its support of Pakistan’s peace efforts in the Gulf region. He said Pakistan was keen to strengthen its partnership with the EU.
Dar called the visit a major milestone. He said recent engagement between Islamabad and Brussels had reached unprecedented frequency. The EU and Pakistan maintain a partnership built on trade, political engagement, development cooperation, and support for multilateral institutions.
