Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday said there was “considerable untapped potential” in Pakistan’s cooperation with the European Union as he held high-level talks with the EU’s top diplomat in Islamabad.
The discussions took place during a meeting with Kaja Kallas, who serves as Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Both sides co-chaired the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, described as the highest-level institutional mechanism for structured engagement between Islamabad and Brussels.
Speaking at a joint press briefing, Dar said Pakistan attached great importance to its long-standing relations with the EU and saw significant room for expansion, particularly in trade and investment cooperation.
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He noted that both sides were regularly exchanging views on regional and global developments, including ongoing conflicts and evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Dar also highlighted the importance of maintaining continuity in strategic dialogue mechanisms, stressing that regular engagement was essential to sustain momentum in bilateral relations.
According to official statements, both sides acknowledged the positive trajectory of ties and agreed to further strengthen cooperation across political, economic and development sectors.
The EU remains Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner, with the GSP+ trade framework continuing to provide preferential market access in exchange for commitments on governance, human rights and environmental conventions.
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Officials said the visit reflects a broader effort to deepen engagement at a time when both sides are seeking to expand cooperation in a changing global economic and security environment.
Overall, the talks underscored a shared interest in maintaining steady diplomatic engagement and expanding economic cooperation between Pakistan and the European Union. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of structured dialogue mechanisms in addressing mutual concerns.
The meeting also reflected continued emphasis on trade, governance reforms, and regional stability as key pillars of the partnership. Officials noted that sustained interaction remains central to building long-term strategic trust.
Further consultations are expected in the coming months as both sides work to advance agreed priorities under existing cooperation frameworks and explore new areas of collaboration.
