Brussels (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday at NATO headquarters, discussing closer cooperation on regional security, counterterrorism, and shared geopolitical challenges.
The discussions touched on the evolving Pakistan-US relationship amid rising instability in South Asia. The climate change and other global developments were also part of the agenda.
Rutte acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in promoting regional peace and stability and praised its counterterrorism initiatives. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to combating militancy, noting that many threats originate from beyond the country’s borders. He emphasized Islamabad’s vision of a peaceful and stable South Asia, calling for constructive dialogue.
“European and South Asian security are closely linked,” Rutte commented on X after the meeting, describing sustained cooperation as crucial for stability and prosperity in both regions.
Dar’s meeting with the NATO chief forms part of a three-day official visit to Brussels, which began Wednesday. This visit marks the first high-level engagement of this kind since then-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s meeting with former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in 2021.
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In a separate meeting, Dar also held talks with EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen to explore ways to strengthen Pakistan-EU relations ahead of the 7th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, which he will co-chair.
Later, Dar hosted a dinner for members of the European Parliament at Pakistan House, inviting European businesses to invest in sectors such as agriculture, textiles, housing, and information technology. Highlighting Pakistan’s young population, over 60% under the age of 30, he described the country as an emerging economic hub.
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Calling the Pakistan-EU partnership a “pillar for peace, stability, and development,” Dar stressed Islamabad’s aim to deepen political and economic cooperation with the European bloc, pointing to the GSP+ trade framework as a key driver for boosting bilateral trade and investment.
The dinner brought together senior MEPs, including committee chairs and coordinators focusing on South Asia, foreign affairs, trade, and security, alongside senior Pakistani diplomatic officials.
