PK-LIVE NEWS

Pakistan and Croatia on Thursday discussed the possibilities and potential for collaboration between the ports of the two countries, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

The development came as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman, who arrived in Islamabad earlier on a one-day visit.

According to the FO, the two sides “discussed ways to strengthen ties in the field of trade, investment, agriculture, labour mobility, visa facilitation, education, defence, climate change, tourism, infrastructure and information technology.

“They also exchanged views on various facets of Pakistan-EU cooperation as well as regional and global issues of interest,” it said.

“Recognizing that connectivity lies at the heart of sustainable development, regional stability, and global economic integration, the two sides discussed the possibilities and potential for collaboration between the ports of Pakistan and Croatia,” it added.

“Both sides agreed to hold bilateral political consultations during the current year or early 2027,” it said, adding that the visit marked an important step in strengthening relations between the two countries.

Addressing delegation-level talks during televised remarks, Dar said that the European Union (EU) was among Pakistan’s top trading partners, adding that Croatia was a “strong member” of the union.

“We are committed to deepening Pakistan’s engagement with Croatia for a sustainable bilateral partnership and closer cooperation within the EU framework,” he said.

He said that the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, had recently visited Pakistan.

“We have wonderful relations with the EU leadership. We remained in contact during the India-Pakistan war,” he said, referring to last year’s brief military conflict.

He said that he had invited Radman and Kallas to visit Pakistan at the same time, thanking them both for accepting.

In his remarks, Radman thanked Dar for the invitation and said he was pleased to be making his first official visit to Pakistan.

He said the “talks provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations and explore ways to expand cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, economy, and business”.

Describing ties between the two countries as “excellent”, Radman said there was “still room to further strengthen cooperation”.

Referring to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, he stressed the importance of international solidarity at a time of growing global challenges, saying “countries must uphold international law, respect humanitarian principles and work together to address regional and international crises”.

The Croatian minister also welcomed Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue and de-escalation in the Middle East, saying initiatives aimed at advancing peace and stability in the region were important.

He also congratulated Dar on Pakistan’s role in supporting diplomatic engagement and expressed support for efforts to encourage peaceful solutions to ongoing conflicts.