Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar shakes hands with EU Vice President Kaja Kallas in Brussels. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and the European Union (EU) jointly urged Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to take decisive measures to curb terrorist activities on its territory and safeguard human rights, particularly of women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
The statement followed the seventh EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in Brussels, which noted that Afghanistan’s internal instability and governance gaps continue to exacerbate cross-border terrorist threats.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and EU High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas. The discussions reviewed progress under the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministers discussed Pakistan-Afghanistan relations amid October 2025 cross-border tensions, reaffirming their commitment to regional peace, stability and prosperity and problem-solving through neighborly dialogue.
“Both sides called on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to play a constructive role in achieving the shared goal of eradicating terrorism from Afghan soil,” the statement said. Both sides also expressed concern over Afghanistan’s deteriorating socio-economic conditions, he added.
They supported a peaceful, stable and self-sufficient Afghanistan that contributes to regional stability, advocating for a credible political process aligned with the UN-led Doha framework and in line with the commitments made by the Taliban de facto authorities to the international community.
“They appreciated Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan citizens for more than four decades. The EU emphasized that any return must be safe, dignified and in line with international standards,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that both sides welcomed the timely convening of dialogue mechanisms and reaffirmed the importance of sustained cooperation in the areas of trade, migration, human rights, politics, economics and development, including under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
“They agreed to further deepen knowledge partnerships through Erasmus Mundus and Horizon Europe and work together on emerging challenges related to food and energy security and climate change,” he added, highlighting continued collaboration to promote sustainable growth and business development.
Pakistan and the EU expressed strong political commitment to the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+), which “remains one of the key elements” of bilateral relations. Kallas also briefed the meeting on the process that led to the adoption of a new GSP framework.
During the discussions, Dar and Kallas reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, the rules-based international order, peace, stability and prosperity, based on shared values and common interests.
“The EU reported on Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Pakistan reported on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said. They also welcomed the first phase of the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”, urging all parties to adhere to the ceasefire and avoid actions that could jeopardize the agreement.
Both sides emphasized their support for concrete steps towards a two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions. They stressed the importance of finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, fully respecting international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and agreed to convene the eighth round of the Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad.
