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Ishaq Dar Attends Pakistan-EU Dialogue in Brussels After Moscow SCO Summit
Pakistan's FM Ishaq Dar attends the 7th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue in Brussels, following his participation at the SCO summit in Moscow. Key discussions on regional cooperation and bilateral relations with EU leaders.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-19
Ishaq Dar Attends Pakistan-EU Dialogue in Brussels After Moscow SCO Summit

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Brussels on Wednesday for a pivotal three-day visit, following his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Moscow. During his visit to Belgium, Dar is co-chairing the seventh session of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, the highest level of institutionalized interaction between the two sides.

The Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue aims to review cooperation across multiple sectors, following the framework set out in the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. According to the Foreign Office (FO), the dialogue will focus on enhancing bilateral relations, addressing regional concerns, and exploring new avenues for cooperation. This session has been convened at the invitation of Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

In addition to co-chairing the Strategic Dialogue, Dar will also participate in the Fourth EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (IMPF), chaired by Kallas, and hold bilateral meetings with various EU counterparts. The visit is seen as a major milestone in Pakistan-EU relations, underlining Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the European Union.

Dar expressed his eagerness to meet European leaders and officials, posting on X (formerly Twitter) upon his arrival in Brussels, stating that he “look[ed] forward to engaging with the president of the European Council, EU high representative/vice-president, EU commissioners, members of the European Parliament, and other leaders attending the IMPF.”

SCO Summit and Diplomatic Engagements

Before heading to Brussels, Dar attended the 24th SCO Council of Heads of Governments (CHG) summit in Moscow, where he led Pakistan’s delegation. While in Moscow, Dar met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations. Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the current positive trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations and discussed furthering cooperation at multilateral fora such as the United Nations and the SCO.

In addition to his discussions with Lavrov, Dar held informal talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, where they exchanged views on enhancing bilateral relations and regional cooperation. Dar also met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the margins of the summit, discussing further collaboration within the SCO framework.

Dar's engagements extended to Central Asia, where he met with key leaders such as Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, to congratulate him on assuming the chairmanship of the SCO Heads of State. He also met Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, where the two leaders discussed strengthening the positive momentum in Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations, as well as the importance of high-level interactions at multilateral fora. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to building stronger ties with Tajikistan during his meeting with PM Kokhir Rasulzoda, congratulating him on Tajikistan’s upcoming chairmanship of the next CHG meeting.

Pakistan-EU Relations: A Comprehensive Partnership

Dar's visit to Brussels is a continuation of Pakistan's diplomatic outreach, particularly in strengthening relations with the EU. The Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue serves as a cornerstone for this relationship, and the discussions during this session are expected to cover a broad range of issues, including trade, climate change, regional security, and humanitarian cooperation.

Pakistan has emphasized its commitment to a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership with the EU, and Dar's diplomatic activities, both in Moscow and Brussels, are designed to solidify this long-term relationship. The outcome of the Strategic Dialogue is likely to have a significant impact on Pakistan's engagement with the European Union in the years to come.
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