The European Union’s (EU) top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, on Monday termed Pakistan a major regional power and an important partner of the EU as the two sides held a strategic dialogue in Islamabad.

Kallas, who serves as vice-president of the Euro­pean Commission and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy (HR/VP), is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Both co-chaired the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, which is the highest-level platform for structured discussion between the two sides.

Addressing a joint press conference, Kallas said, “Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union.

“Today, in our strategic dialogue, we affirmed our shared commitment to strengthening EU-Pakistan ties even further,” she stated.

‘Considerable untapped potential in cooperation’

During their meeting, Dar and Kallas “acknowledged the positive trajectory of Pakistan-EU ties and agreed to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership”, the FO said.

“The two leaders also exchanged views [on] regional and global developments, ahead of the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue which is being held subsequently,” it added.

In opening remarks before the dialogue, Dar said, “We have a great relationship with the EU; there is a great history. Pakistan sees considerable untapped potential in our cooperation.”

He noted, “We have a number of areas where we can work together, particularly trade and many other areas.”

Dar stressed the need to maintain a frequency of six months’ gap in strategic dialogues, as was the case between the current and the last dialogue.

“We hold deep appreciation for the EU leadership and your engagement, particularly,” Dar said.

He added that he and Kallas remained in touch on various matters, including the Pakistan-India conflict last year and the ongoing US-Iran war.

“We keep exchanging notes and you have been very kind,” Dar remarked. “I think this interaction is very welcome,” he added.

Dar mentioned an EU “strategic vision, which aims at providing long-term direction and strategic cooperation toward partnership”.

“Building upon the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) 2019 and Cooperation Agreement 2004, the proposed vision seeks to elevate our engagement into a more comprehensive and forward-looking framework,” he stated.

He added that the “vision document can serve as an important foundation for deepening political understanding, expanding sectoral cooperation and strengthening institutional linkages between Pakistan and the EU”.

Dar highlighted that the continuation of the strategic dialogue “demonstrates our shared resolve to impart greater momentum to Pakistan-EU relations and to shape a forward-looking partnership”.

He remarked that the two sides had “great discussions” in the restricted meetings.

The deputy PM expressed the hope that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would find some time to visit Pakistan, as there was a standing invitation from the prime minister.

In her opening remarks, Kallas welcomed the “strong momentum for EU-Pakistan trade relations”.

“EU remains by far Pakistan’s largest export destination, and I was surprised to hear that it’s actually more than the US and China combined, so we really are your market,” the diplomat pointed out.

She further observed that Pakistan continued to be the “world’s leading beneficiary of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) system”.

Kallas said: “This is really showing that the partnership is not only commercially significant, but it’s also a driver of growth. And beyond trade and investment, there are areas where we can explore the deepening of our ties, when it comes to resilience building, climate, digital infrastructure, and migration mobility.

“These are investments in long-term partnership and really looking forward to our discussions today about the regional but also global developments and how we can develop our relationship even further.”

Kallas also commended Dar on “facilitating the talks between the US and Iran”.

“It is a conflict that is having an impact on everybody and the world when it comes to the energy prices, prices of fertilisers, and so this is really what we need to see — the ceasefire really holding and the talks continuing,” she stressed.

Kallas mentioned Dar’s “consistent” invitations to her to visit Pakistan. “As you know, in these calendars there are too few days, but we found this day and I’m happy that we are here,” she said.

The visiting diplomat said the “momentum of 2026 is to develop EU-Pakistan relations into a more forward-looking footing”.

She added: “We have this contested geopolitical environment, rising tensions everywhere and real risk of escalation and like we were discussing, we also share the priorities when it comes to the rules-based international order that we need to develop further.

“We are working towards global and regional stability, which is in both of our interests. We also promote free and fair trade and investment, and advance sustainable connectivity.”

Earlier in the day, Kallas was welcomed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Dar and other officials.

‘Multidimensional partnership with EU’

According to the FO, Kallas’s visit reflects the growing momentum in high-level political excha­nges and both sides’ commitment to further stren­gthening their multifaceted partnership.

“Pakistan deeply values its long-standing, multidimensional partnership with the European Union, which is anchored in shared values, robust economic cooperation, and a mutual commitment to multilateralism,” the FO said.

Kallas will also hold meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the EU said. The FO confirmed that she was set to meet Pakistan’s “senior leadership”, including the president and the premier.

The EU is Pakistan’s sec­ond-largest trading partner, with the GSP+ status allowing the country to enjoy duty-free or minimum duty on European exports.

The status was granted by the EU in 2014, with the European Parliament unanimously voting in October 2023 to extend it until 2027 for developing countries, including Pakistan.

According to the EU, GSP+ status is a special incentive awarded to developing countries to “pursue sustainable development and good governance” in exchange for cutting import duties to zero on two-thirds of the tariff lines of its exports.

Governments with this status need to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, good governance and the environment.

Though it has the status, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said last November that the country needs to “do better” to fulfil its obligations, specifically on blasphemy, enforced disappearances and minority rights.

In December 2025, the EU welcomed certain steps taken by Pakistan towards implementing international conventions under the GSP+ framework, while also reiterating the “need for further reforms in the medium and long term”.

More to follow