ISLAMABAD: The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas arrived in Islamabad on Monday to participate in the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, during which the two sides will review bilateral ties and cooperation across several sectors.
The Strategic Dialogue is the highest level of institutionalized interaction between the two sides, during which they review cooperation across all sectors under the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. The dialogue takes place on an annual basis, with the last taking place in Islamabad in November 2025.
Kallas will co-chair the 8th session of the dialogue in Islamabad with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the European External Action Service (EEAS), EU’s diplomatic service, and Pakistan’s foreign office, said last week.
“This upcoming visit underscores the sustained momentum of high-level political exchanges between Pakistan and the EU and reflects a shared commitment to further strengthening the Pakistan-EU partnership,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.
Kallas arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad where she was welcomed by Dar and other officials.
The EEAS said Kallas will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir during her visit. Kallas will hold a joint press conference with Dar at 12:30 p.m. local time, the EEAS added.
“During the visit, the HRVP will also meet with representatives of think thanks and academia,” it said.
Pakistan attaches special importance to the EU, with it being one of its largest trading partners for Islamabad, accounting for more than 30 percent of exports under the GSP Plus scheme.
The GSP Plus scheme grants countries’ exports duty-free access to the European market in exchange for voluntarily agreeing to implement 27 international core conventions, including those on human and civil rights. Pakistan is one of the beneficiaries of the scheme.
