Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide praises Pakistan’s role in US-Iran peace efforts as Islamabad and Oslo discuss trade, investment and regional issues.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan and Norway have agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across trade, investment, climate change, education, maritime affairs and other areas of mutual interest during high-level talks in Islamabad.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held delegation-level discussions with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Thursday during Eide’s two-day official visit to Pakistan, the first visit by a Norwegian foreign minister to the country in a decade.
The two sides reviewed the broader Pakistan-Norway relationship and exchanged views on regional and international developments. Both governments also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and expanding people-to-people contacts.
Norway praises Pakistan’s peace efforts
A key focus of the talks was Pakistan’s diplomatic role in efforts to facilitate dialogue amid the recent US-Iran conflict.
Eide praised what he described as Pakistan’s important and constructive role, including the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to promote dialogue and de-escalation.
The Norwegian foreign minister said Pakistan had undertaken a major responsibility by offering Islamabad not only as a venue but also as a facilitator for negotiations. He also indicated that Norway was prepared to support Pakistan’s peace efforts where it could contribute.
Eide said Norway and Pakistan shared an interest in maintaining open sea lanes and protecting freedom of navigation, particularly given Norway’s position as a major maritime nation.
Trade and investment high on agenda
Economic cooperation was another major element of the discussions.
Dar said bilateral trade remained below the potential of the two economies and needed to be increased through effective measures. He highlighted investment opportunities available to Norwegian companies in Pakistan and referred to the joint venture between Norwegian company Yara International and Fauji Fertilizer as an example of potential future cooperation.
Eide also said Norway wanted to develop stronger and more structured economic relations with Pakistan, including through cooperation involving the European Free Trade Association framework.
Dar further noted that Pakistan’s information technology exports to Norway had increased significantly over the past two years and said both sides had agreed to accelerate the finalisation of pending agreements and memorandums of understanding.
Climate and maritime cooperation discussed
Climate change and renewable energy also featured prominently in the talks.
Dar said Pakistan and Norway had similar views on climate-related issues and pointed to an agreement signed under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement earlier this year.
The two countries also discussed maritime cooperation. Dar highlighted Pakistan’s geographic position and its potential role in ship recycling, while acknowledging Norwegian assistance in strengthening technical capacity and standards in Pakistan’s ship-breaking sector.
Eide said Norway had closely followed the effects of climate change on Pakistan, particularly the impact of floods and other extreme weather events, and stressed that climate change should also be considered a foreign policy issue.
Kashmir, Afghanistan and Middle East also discussed
The talks also covered several regional issues, including Kashmir, Afghanistan and the wider Middle East situation.
Dar briefed the Norwegian delegation on Pakistan’s position regarding Kashmir and raised concerns over India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. He reiterated Islamabad’s call for dialogue, de-escalation and peaceful resolution of regional disputes.
Eide said Norway and Pakistan had also discussed developments in the Middle East and Afghanistan. He reaffirmed Norway’s support for international efforts aimed at advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Focus on diaspora and skilled workers
The two countries also agreed to strengthen people-to-people ties, with particular attention to the Pakistani diaspora in Norway.
Eide highlighted the contribution of Norwegian citizens of Pakistani origin to Norwegian society and said the sizeable diaspora could also help strengthen economic links between the two countries.
Dar said Pakistan and Norway had agreed to continue working on legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers while cooperating against human smuggling and irregular migration.
The foreign ministers also reaffirmed support for multilateralism, the principles of the UN Charter, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
First Norwegian FM visit in a decade
Eide’s August 13-14 visit is the first visit by a Norwegian foreign minister to Pakistan in 10 years and represents the highest-level engagement between the two countries in a decade.
The visit follows sustained diplomatic contacts between Dar and Eide, including telephone conversations earlier this year and a visit to Islamabad by Norway’s State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik in May.
Both sides expressed confidence that the latest engagement would open further avenues for cooperation and contribute to stronger political and economic relations between Pakistan and Norway.
