Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Thursday agreed to deepen cooperation in multiple areas, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

According to the FO, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received the visiting UK minister of state for security, Dan Jarvis, in Islamabad, where both sides reviewed existing bilateral ties and agreed to “further deepen cooperation in security, law enforcement, migration, trade and investment”.

Dar and Jarvis also exchanged views on regional and global developments and discussed further meetings under the R4 + E4 framework, the statement added, referring to a meeting of the two regional groups in Istanbul last month.

“Dar underscored the importance of continued Pakistan-UK cooperation on bilateral matters and on regional developments of mutual interest,” the FO said.

A day prior, Pakistan and the UK expressed concern at terrorism emanating from Afghanistan during their annual bilateral counter-terrorism dialogue in Islamabad, the FO stated.

“The two sides discussed in detail the evolving regional and global security environment and exchanged views on the threats posed by terrorist entities, including transnational terrorist networks,” it said.

“Both sides expressed concerns over the continuing threat posed by terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, operating in and from Afghanistan,” the FO said, adding that they underscored the “urgent need for a stable, secure Afghanistan as a cornerstone for lasting peace and prosperity across the region”.

Islamabad and London have also been engaged in the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue since 2011, which has deepened and broadened the dialogue between the two countries, covering areas such as trade, economic growth and development, cultural cooperation, security, and education.