Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed his country’s appreciation of Pakistan’s mediatory role in the ongoing US-Iran conflict on Thursday, saying it was a “service to the world and, hence, also to us”.

Eide, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, expressed these views while addressing a press conference alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.

“I also really want to reiterate our strong support for the very important role that Pakistan has taken in this dramatic war that started on February 28 with the US-Israel attack on Iran,” he said, recalling that Norway was one of the Western countries that was “clearest and earliest” in stating that the war was a violation of international rules.

“If we stand up for international law, it has to apply to everyone, everywhere, all the time,” he stressed.

He said that while Norway had “significant disagreements with Iran on other issues, they also have the right to be protected as a state”.

Coming to Pakistan’s mediatory role in the ongoing conflict, he said he realised how difficult mediation and facilitation of parleys between the two sides could be.

“I know what a massive task you were taking on when you offered Islamabad not only as the venue but also as the facilitator of these talks,” he said, lauding Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership for their efforts.

“What you have been doing is really a service to the world, and hence, also to us.”

The Norwegian foreign minister said Pakistan’s mediation efforts also mattered to his country as it was a large shipping nation.

“We share an interest in open sea lanes and the ability to trade in the high seas, and to respect the Constitution of the Oceans […] Whatever emerges from this tragic and unnecessary war in Gulf, we need to protect the principle of the free passage,” he explained. “And I am so happy we see completely eye to eye [on this],” he remarked.

The visiting minister added that his message to “anyone involved out there in the conflict is that this issue of free passage and an open strait is not an issue for the warring parties alone. It is a global issue that we have a shared interest in promoting”.

He said he had discussed other regional issues during the visit as well, ranging from the Kashmir issue to Afghanistan.

Moreover, Eide said, he was glad to learn more about a recently signed defence pact between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia in Makkah.

“These are three countries with whom Norway has very good and close relations,” he noted.

At the outset of his address, Eide said he was honoured to be in Pakistan, saying the last time a Norwegian foreign minister visited Pakistan was 10 years ago.

“So it was about time,” he remarked. “I promised you many months ago that I would come, and today, I live up to my promise. I was looking forward to this visit, which is short but very effective.”

Eide said there was a “strong partnership” between Norway and Pakistan, as well as the people of the two countries.

“We have a sizeable diaspora of Pakistani descent […] Many of them are in key positions of politics and society and are a very welcome contribution to our country; and the fact that we have so many people who know these two countries intimately is yet another argument for strengthening our economic ties,” he added.

The Norwegian foreign minister further said that Oslo and Islamabad were discussing strengthening economic ties “in the context of specifics” and enhancing trade ties in more structural ways.

He also mentioned climate change and floods in Pakistan, saying that the two sides agreed it was a foreign policy issue.

“And if you need one additional argument for stopping wars apart from relieving suffering and ending economic harm, it is that mankind should collectively try to focus on the real issues that require real cooperative action,” he said.

Eide mentioned combatting nature loss, climate change, promoting global health and fighting poverty in this connection, adding that all of them were on his agenda for discussions during the visit.

Speaking before him, Dar said the two countries had agreed to enhance their ties and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, education, defence, climate change, IT and maritime affairs.

He said Pakistan greatly valued its relations with Norway and looked forward to further strengthening these ties in the days, weeks and months to come.

Moreover, he continued, bilateral political consultations (BPC) between the two countries had become a regular feature. “We are looking forward to hosting the next round of BPC in Islamabad later this year in the winter,” he said.

Dar said the two sides also agreed that bilateral trade between Norway and Pakistan was “below the potential of both economies and needs to be enhanced through effective measures”.

“Pakistan offers enormous investment opportunities to Norwegian companies, and it is heartening to see many leading Norwegian companies investing in Pakistan.

“A renowned Norwegian company, Yara International, is establishing a joint venture in plant nutrition with the Fauji Fertiliser company. I hope this initiative will be a trailblazer for many more future projects between our two great countries,” he added.

Dar termed Pakistan’s partnership with Norway in the field of technology “a success story”.

“Pakistan’s IT exports to Norway have grown more than five-fold in the last two years, and I have no doubt that this is only the beginning.”

He further stated that the two sides also agreed on the expedient finalisation of various agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU).

On climate change, he said there was a convergence of perspectives between the two countries.

“It is heartening to note that Pakistan and Norway signed the MoU under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on April 1 this year,” he said, adding that the two sides also held talks on cooperation in maritime affairs.

He said he had told the visiting dignitary that Pakistan was “one of the world’s largest ship recycling facilities, and our strategic location makes it the most competitive and nearest recycling destination in this maritime region for ships coming from Norway”.

Dar thanked Norway’s maritime authorities for their support in capacity building and providing technical training for Pakistan’s shipbreaking industry in line with the Hong Kong International Convention.

He added that Pakistan and Norway had agreed to enhance people-to-people contact, which he said could become “defining for our relations and serve as social and cultural bridges between the two countries”.

The DPM said the two sides had also discussed labour mobility.

“We agreed to continue work on legal pathways for Pakistan’s skilled manpower, expressing the need to combat human smuggling and illegal migration. Both sides agreed that by providing safe, orderly and regular migration channels, we not only protect migrants’ rights and lives but also dismantle the illegal model of smuggling networks,” he elaborated.

Dar further said that both Pakistan and Norway shared a commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

“Our two countries remain actively engaged on issues related to the UN Security Council, and the two sides have strong convergence of views on major issues.

“Building on our previous experience of working together in international bodies and multilateral fora, both sides affirm their desire to continue mutual support and consultations on such forums.”

Dar said he had also briefed the Norwegian foreign minister and delegation on the Kashmir issue. He said he told them that India had added a new dimension to an already volatile security situation by unilaterally announcing the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty in contravention of international law.

“We reiterate that India must end the weaponisation of water and uphold its treaty obligations under international legal obligations,” he asserted.

Delegation-level talks

Eide had commended Islamabad’s mediation efforts after his arrival in the federal capital earlier in the day as well, and as he held delegation-level talks with Dar, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

The visiting dignitary recognised Pakistan’s role as “important and constructive”, the FO said.

“The Norwegian foreign minister commended Pakistan’s important and constructive role during the recent Iran-US conflict, including the leadership and contributions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, DPM Dar and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir,” it said.

Both sides reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, climate change, maritime affairs and education. They recognised the important role of the Pakistani diaspora in Norway and agreed to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries, it added.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the warm and cordial state of Pakistan-Norway relations and agreed to further deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” it said.

The FO said the two sides also held in-depth discussions on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

In televised remarks, Eide appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and expressed Norway’s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties.

He said Norway and Pakistan had a “very strong bilateral partnership”, adding that the presence of a large Pakistani community in Norway, which was “well integrated into Norwegian society”, had helped strengthen ties between the two countries.

“There are many leading politicians in Norway and many close colleagues who are actually of Pakistani-Norwegian descent, so it has really made a mark,” he said.

Eide said business ties between the two countries were also growing, particularly in the energy and fertiliser sectors, with Norwegian companies increasingly looking at opportunities in Pakistan.

He said Norway also saw opportunities for Pakistan to strengthen economic relations through its cooperation with Switzerland and Iceland, noting that the three countries could provide further avenues for expanding business relations.

Turning to the regional situation, Eide strongly commended the actions taken by Pakistan’s leadership, including the prime minister and foreign minister, in efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.

Eide described the ongoing war as “incredibly dangerous” for global peace as well as the world economy, and praised Pakistan for stepping forward. He also appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating the Islamabad talks and maintaining engagement with the parties involved.

“I think it is fair to say that the position of Pakistan on the world stage, also in peacemaking, has really been strengthened by this commitment,” he said.

Eide said Norway was ready to assist Pakistan’s peace efforts, noting that Oslo had experience in peace negotiations and maintained open dialogue with both Tehran and Washington.

“Wherever we can be useful, we will,” he said.

He also highlighted Norway’s experience in international maritime affairs, saying the country was among the world’s major seafaring nations despite its relatively small population.

He said Norway could therefore play a constructive role in discussions concerning international maritime law and developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

Dar, Eide discuss bilateral ties

Earlier, the two ministers held a “restricted-format meeting”.

“DPM Dar warmly welcomed Eide to Pakistan. The two ministers discussed the full range of bilateral relations, as well as regional and international developments, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest,” it said.

Upon his arrival in Islamabad, Eide was received at the airport by Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Ambassador Ayesha Ali.

In a statement on Wednesday, the FO said the minister is undertaking the visit from Aug 13-14 at Dar’s invitation.

The visit is the first by a Norwegian foreign minister in a decade, the FO said, adding that the visit would build on high-level engagement between the two countries, including phone conversation between Dar and Eide in March and April, and the visit of Norway’s State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik to Islamabad in May.

The FO stated that the visit would provide an opportunity to “further strengthen the longstanding and cordial relations between Pakistan and Norway and to explore new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation”.