Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar shakes hands with EU Vice-President Kaja Kallas in Brussels. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and the European Union (EU) have jointly urged the de facto authorities of Afghanistan to take decisive measures to curb terrorist activities on its soil and protect human rights, particularly those of women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
The statement follows the seventh EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue held in Brussels, which noted that Afghanistan’s internal instability and governance gaps continue to exacerbate cross-border terrorist threats.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar and EU High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas. The discussions focused on progress made under the Strategic Engagement Plan 2019, according to a statement issued by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministers discussed Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in the context of the October 2025 cross-border tensions, reaffirming their commitment to regional peace, stability and prosperity and resolving issues through dialogue among neighbors.
“Both sides called on the de facto Afghan authorities to play a constructive role in achieving the common goal of eradicating terrorism from Afghan soil,” the statement said. Both sides also expressed concern over the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in Afghanistan, the statement added.
They supported a peaceful, stable and autonomous Afghanistan contributing to regional stability, advocating for a credible political process aligned with the UN-led Doha Framework and consistent with the commitments made by the de facto Taliban authorities to the international community.
“They appreciated Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan nationals for over four decades. The European side stressed that any return must be safe, dignified and in line with international standards,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that both sides welcomed the timely convening of dialogue mechanisms and reaffirmed the importance of sustainable cooperation in the areas of trade, migration, human rights, politics, economics and development, including within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
“They agreed to further deepen their knowledge partnerships through Erasmus Mundus and Horizon Europe and to work together on emerging challenges related to food and energy security and climate change,” the text adds, highlighting continued collaboration to promote sustainable growth and trade development.
Pakistan and the EU have expressed their strong political commitment to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+), which “remains one of the key elements” of bilateral relations. Kallas also briefed the meeting on the process leading to the adoption of a new GSP framework.
During the discussions, Dar and Kallas reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, the rules-based international order, peace, stability and prosperity, based on common values and interests.
“The European side briefed on the Russian war in Ukraine while Pakistan briefed on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said. They also welcomed the first phase of the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza,” calling on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire and avoid any action that could jeopardize the agreement.
Both sides stressed their support for concrete steps towards a two-state solution, in line with relevant UN resolutions. They stressed the importance of finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, in full respect of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and agreed to convene the eighth round of the strategic dialogue in Islamabad.
