ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is heading to United Kingdom with diplomatic agenda expected to place trade, security cooperation and the plight of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates at the centre of high-level discussions.
Foreign Office said Deputy Premier will meet British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, FCDO Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty and other senior members of the UK government during his five-day visit.
He will also discuss situation of Pakistani crew members aboard the MT Honour 25 oil tanker, who are reportedly being held by Somali pirates.
Also, Dar will meet Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to discuss the case and the situation facing the Pakistani crew. The foreign minister will also hold talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, while meetings with British parliamentarians and representatives of the Pakistani diaspora are also expected.
Dar’s visit comes as Islamabad and London seek to give fresh momentum to their economic relationship. In July, Islamabad and London agreed to advance bilateral trade engagement and expand business-to-business cooperation. The two sides also explored the possibility of transforming the existing Trade Dialogue into more structured economic and trade framework.
The development signals an effort to move Pakistan-UK economic relations beyond traditional diplomatic engagement and towards stronger commercial ties.
Counterterrorism and law-enforcement cooperation are another major component of the relationship.
In June, Pakistan and the UK agreed to enhance cooperation in counterterrorism, combating illegal migration and human smuggling, institutional collaboration and police training.
The understanding followed talks between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and British Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia and the United Nations Hamish Falconer.
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