ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the European Union on Monday held their 8th strategic dialogue in Islamabad, with both sides pledging to deepen political engagement and expand cooperation on regional and global issues, including conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan was committed to further strengthening relations with the bloc.

He said that continued engagement with EU leadership and EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas was “highly valuable” for bilateral ties.

Dar said that Pakistan and the EU remained closely engaged on regional and global developments, particularly the Pakistan-India situation and the Iran–US tensions.

He said that interactions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and EU leadership were important for advancing bilateral cooperation.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that she was pleased to visit Pakistan, praising Islamabad’s role in facilitating dialogue efforts in the Iran–US diplomatic track.

Kallas said the Iran–US tensions had contributed to broader global energy pressures, stressing the need for sustained dialogue and lasting ceasefires in conflict zones. She said the key objective for 2026 was to further strengthen Pakistan–EU relations on a future-oriented basis.

She said that Pakistan and the EU shared similar priorities for regional and global stability, and that their partnership remained important for trade and economic development.

Pakistan and the European Union share a long-standing, multidimensional partnership anchored in robust economic cooperation, shared values, and a mutual commitment to multilateralism.

The EU remains one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners, driven largely by preferential trade frameworks.