EU foreign policy chief arrives in Pakistan for 8th Strategic Dialogue
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
ISLAMABAD – European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas arrived in Pakistan on Monday to participate in the 8th Pakistan-European Union Strategic Dialogue. The Foreign Office said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will co-chair the dialogue with Kallas. The Strategic Dialogue serves as the highest-level institutional platform for discussions between Pakistan and the European Union on bilateral, regional and international issues. During her visit, Kallas is scheduled to hold meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation under the Strategic Engagement Plan signed between Pakistan and the European Union in 2019. The dialogue will provide an opportunity to review progress in bilateral relations and explore avenues for enhanced collaboration in key sectors. The Foreign Office said Pakistan attaches great importance to its longstanding and multifaceted partnership with the European Union, which is based on economic cooperation, shared interests and support for multilateral engagement. Kallas is also expected to interact with representatives of think tanks and academic institutions during her stay, reflecting the European Union’s broader engagement with policy experts, researchers and civil society. The visit comes amid continued cooperation between Pakistan and the EU in areas including trade, development, climate action, migration and regional stability. Both sides have maintained regular high-level contacts aimed at deepening institutional ties and expanding cooperation. The European Union remains Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner. Trade relations have been significantly supported by the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) programme, which grants preferential access to European markets for a wide