Thank you, dear Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq.
I am really glad to be here in Islamabad today, even if it is for a brief visit. It comes at an important moment.
Since we last met in November, the world and this region have experienced profound changes. Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union.
Today, in our strategic dialogue, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening EU-Pakistan ties even further. On trade in particular, there is already a strong momentum. The European Union remains, by far, Pakistan’s largest export destination. It is actually largest than China and US combined. And Pakistan is the world’s leading beneficiary of European Union trade preferences the GSP+. But GSP+ has clear conditions continued preferential access to the EU market. It depends on progress in implementing the international conventions underpinning the scheme. This includes good governance environmental protection and particularly labor and human rights. We look to Pakistan to demonstrate the tangible progress on these issues.
Beyond trade, we are deepening cooperation on a wide range of issues, including climate resilience, digital infrastructure, clean energy, migration, and mobility; people to people links are also important part of our partnership. I am also impressed that Pakistan tops the EU’s global Erasmus Mundus scholarship rankings again, the fifth year in a row.
The Deputy Prime Minister and I today exchanged views on pressing global developments, including in the Middle East. Pakistan has been the main mediator between the United States and Iran. Your diplomatic efforts have helped to prevent a return to full blown war on several occasions, and these efforts are much recognised and appreciated across Europe.
With your support, there is now a tenuous diplomatic opening to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Yet, any temporary understanding between the US and Iran must be followed by deeper talks about Tehran’s nuclear stockpile and other critical issues.
Lasting stability will require more encompassing solutions. The European Union is ready to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful solution. We bring economic leverage, hard-won nuclear expertise, long-standing relationships with partners across the Gulf, and direct engagement with Iran itself. I see a concrete role for the EU in helping to make any eventual agreement durable, whether through maritime operations, economic incentives that support long-term stability, or other issues.
Here, in the region, Pakistan has been locked in a conflict with Afghanistan. The fighting in recent weeks has had grave humanitarian consequences and also risks fuelling further instability and radicalization, and this is why we have constantly called on both sides to exercise restraint and de-escalation. Pakistan has the right to defend itself and its people in line with the international law, but dialog, not air strikes, are the best-off ramp in this situation.
We also discussed many other important topics, but I will leave it here. So, thank you again dear Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq DAR for welcoming us here today and I am looking forward to continuing closer cooperation.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-290008