He said the visit highlights the strength and depth of the UK-Pakistan relationship at a time of global instability.
British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Director-General Policy Ed Llewellyn on Wednesday welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to defuse tensions in the Middle East and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace in the region during his visit to Islamabad.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator and stepped up efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which prompted Tehran to launch attacks on Israel and U.S. military bases in the Gulf.
To ease tensions, Pakistan hosted a quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Islamabad on Sunday, with representatives from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The meeting attracted worldwide attention and was widely appreciated for Pakistan’s efforts.
In a press release issued by the UK High Commission today, Llewellyn welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East and reiterated the UK’s call for a cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure.
“This visit highlights the strength and depth of the UK-Pakistan relationship at a time of global instability. Our partnership is anchored in shared interests and continued dialogue is essential as we work together to support regional stability and address shared security challenges,” he said.
He also recognized the impact of terrorism on the Pakistani population and the sacrifices made by law enforcement and security forces in an attempt to combat it.
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Llewellyn reaffirmed that the UK stood with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and underlined its commitment to deepening cooperation to this end.
He also highlighted the UK’s support for Pakistan’s long-term economic growth and stressed the importance of continued partnership on climate resilience, development and people-to-people connections.
