Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts earn EU praise

islamabad
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their mutual interest in ramping up ties as Pakistan’s role for peace between the United States and Iran came in for praise from the bloc.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said she met the premier today at the PM House.
“The prime minister welcomed the EU high representative and stated that Pakistan was keen to further strengthen the multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and the European Union,” it said.
It stated that Kallas also appreciated the role played by Pakistan for regional peace and conveyed the EU’s “strong interest in deepening strategic engagement” with Pakistan.
The statement said PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction at the 8th round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the EU in key areas, including trade and investment, climate change, security, migration, sustainable development, and connectivity.
“In this regard, the prime minister highlighted the important role of GSP+ in ensuring stronger trade ties between Pakistan and the EU. Discussions also focused on the regional and international situation.
“The prime minister thanked the EU leadership for its strong support for Pakistan’s peace efforts in the Gulf region. He said that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were playing a crucial role in these efforts. He laid special emphasis on the need for the international community, including the EU to work collectively to ensure lasting peace in the region,” the PMO said.
PM Shehbaz also shared Pakistan’s perspective on the regional situation in South Asia, as well as on Afghanistan, with Kallas. He further conveyed his best wishes to EU Council President Antonio Costa as well as to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and reiterated his cordial invitations to both leaders to visit Pakistan soon.

Pakistan a ‘major regional power’
She earlier called for deeper and more forward-looking relations with Pakistan, describing Islamabad as a key regional partner during a press briefing following the 8th Pakistan–EU Strategic Dialogue.
Speaking alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at a press briefing, Kallas said her visit came at an important moment amid global and regional changes, noting that both sides had reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation.
She said, “Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union,” adding that the strategic dialogue had underlined a shared resolve to deepen ties further.
Kallas highlighted that the EU and Pakistan had seen “strong momentum” in trade relations, stressing that the EU remains Pakistan’s largest export destination, “larger than China and the US combined.”
She also noted Pakistan’s position as the world’s leading beneficiary of the EU’s GSP+ scheme, while emphasising that continued access depends on progress in implementing international conventions, including governance standards, environmental protection, and labour and human rights commitments.