Canadian Foreign Minister Visits Pakistan After Nearly Two Decades, Marking New Chapter in Bilateral Relations

ISLAMABAD, July 20: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Monday welcomed Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, as both sides launched high-level talks aimed at revitalizing bilateral relations after nearly two decades.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders are discussing the full spectrum of Pakistan–Canada relations, including political engagement, trade and investment, development cooperation, education, people-to-people contacts, and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Minister Anand’s visit is her first to Pakistan since assuming office and the first bilateral visit by a Canadian Foreign Minister in almost 20 years, making it a significant diplomatic milestone for both countries.

Background

Pakistan and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1947 and have maintained friendly ties based on cooperation in trade, education, development assistance, and a vibrant Pakistani diaspora of more than 300,000 people living in Canada.

However, high-level bilateral engagement slowed over the past two decades as both countries focused on other foreign policy priorities. Differences over regional security issues, shifting diplomatic agendas following the post-9/11 era, and changes in government priorities contributed to the decline in senior-level exchanges, although diplomatic relations remained intact.

In recent years, both Islamabad and Ottawa have expressed interest in rebuilding political dialogue and expanding cooperation in trade, climate action, education, immigration, regional security, and economic partnerships. Anita Anand’s visit is widely viewed as a renewed effort by both governments to restore regular high-level diplomatic engagement and open a new chapter in Pakistan–Canada relations.