BRUSSELS: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar landed in Belgium on Wednesday to participate in the 7th session of the Pakistan EU Strategic Dialogue following his recent visit to Russia where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
As per an official statement from the Foreign Office, Dar was welcomed by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Pakistan’s ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU, Rahim Hayat Qureshi, along with other officials from the Pakistani embassy.“Dar will co-chair the seventh session of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue at the invitation of Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy,” the FO noted.
The upcoming dialogue aims to evaluate and strengthen cooperation across all sectors under the framework of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. The FO emphasized that this dialogue represents the highest institutional level of engagement between Pakistan and the European Union.
During his stay in Brussels, Dar will also participate in the 4th EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. Additionally, he plans to hold multiple bilateral meetings and high-level discussions with senior EU officials during the event.The Foreign Office described Dar’s visit to Brussels as a “milestone” in enhancing Pakistan-EU relations, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to building a “comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership” with the EU.
Prior to his Brussels trip, Dar was in Moscow leading Pakistan’s delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting. The SCO CHG, as the second-tier decision-making body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, focuses on areas like economic cooperation, trade, connectivity, and socio-economic development. It also finalizes joint statements and key policy decisions.
Dar expressed his appreciation for Russia’s hospitality and the organization of the SCO summit before departing Moscow. He also acknowledged the support from the Pakistani embassy and the Foreign Office teams involved in facilitating his visit.
During the SCO summit, Dar held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two discussed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, expressing satisfaction with the positive trajectory of their cooperation. Dar congratulated Lavrov on the successful SCO-CHG meeting and highlighted the importance of leadership and institutional mechanisms in strengthening ties.
Both foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues, reaffirming their commitment to coordinate closely at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and SCO.In addition, Dar engaged in an informal discussion with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, focusing on regional cooperation and bilateral priorities.
On the sidelines of the summit, Dar also met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, further emphasizing Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement across key international partners.
