PM Shehbaz, EU’s Kaja Kallas Agree to Deepen Strategic Partnership; EU Praises Pakistan’s Role in Regional Peace Efforts

ISLAMABAD, June 1, 2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its multifaceted partnership with the European Union during a meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

The meeting took place following the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, which was co-chaired earlier in the day by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Kaja Kallas.

Senior Pakistani officials present during the meeting included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and other senior government representatives.

Welcoming the EU High Representative, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan attached great importance to its relationship with the European Union and was keen to further expand cooperation across multiple sectors. He expressed satisfaction over the successful convening of the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue and described it as an important platform for advancing bilateral engagement.

The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the European Union in key areas including trade and investment, climate change, security, migration, sustainable development, and regional connectivity. He also underscored the significance of the GSP+ scheme, which has played a crucial role in strengthening trade relations between Pakistan and the EU by providing Pakistani exports preferential access to European markets.

Regional and international developments featured prominently in the discussions. Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked the European Union leadership for supporting Pakistan’s efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Gulf region. He noted that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had been playing an important role in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and encouraging dialogue.

The Prime Minister stressed that the international community, including the European Union, must work collectively to promote lasting peace, stability, and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts. He also shared Pakistan’s perspective on developments in South Asia and Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation and sustained international engagement.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes to António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, while renewing his invitation for both European leaders to visit Pakistan.

For her part, Kaja Kallas appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability and reiterated the European Union’s strong interest in deepening strategic engagement with Islamabad. She acknowledged Pakistan’s importance as a key regional partner and welcomed continued cooperation across political, economic, and security domains.

Earlier, speaking during media interactions in Islamabad, Kallas also welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to promote dialogue and moderation amid regional tensions, including diplomatic initiatives related to tensions involving Iran and the United States. She emphasized the importance of diplomacy, de-escalation, and peaceful engagement in addressing regional disputes.

The EU High Representative further highlighted the importance of continued international engagement with Afghanistan, noting that regional stability remains closely linked to developments in the country. She emphasized the need for coordinated international efforts to address humanitarian challenges and support long-term stability in Afghanistan.

Analysts view Kaja Kallas’s visit as one of the most significant high-level exchanges between Pakistan and the European Union in recent years. The visit reflects growing convergence between Islamabad and Brussels on issues ranging from trade and investment to climate action, regional security, migration management, and multilateral diplomacy.

The meetings and discussions held during the visit underscored a shared commitment to transforming the Pakistan-EU relationship into a broader strategic partnership capable of addressing both regional challenges and global priorities in an increasingly complex international environment.