ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday signed an agreement with Pakistan that would give it dialogue partner status with the bloc.

The framework agreement was signed by GCC secretary general Abdul Rahman al Attiyah, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and Kuwait Foreign Minister Mohamed Sabah al Salem al Sabah.

Kuwait is current chairman of the Riyadh-based GCC, which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Kuwaiti foreign minister said the agreement would bring Pakistan and the GCC closer.

It would promote economic cooperation, exchange of information and encourage technical economic cooperation with the grouping, he added. The framework agreement would lead towards the establishment of a free trade area, he said.

Separately he inked agreements with Pakistan to enhance bilateral political consultations and to boost cooperation in curbing narcotics trafficking, officials said. -AFP