After the third strategic EU-Pakistan dialogue meeting in Brussels on Tuesday 4 October, the European External Action Service announced that the European Union and Pakistan agreed to pull out the stops to finalise a strategic engagement plan by mid-2017 to replace the current 5-year engagement plan adopted in 2012 (see EUROPE 10627).
During the dialogue, the two sides welcomed the continued reinforcement of relations, agreeing to extend and deepen cooperation under the new plan (see EUROPE 11596). The EU and Pakistan agreed to boost cooperation further on legal and illegal migration, and reaffirmed their engagement to pursue implantation of the readmission agreement. There will also be greater cooperation on counter-terrorism, disarmament, non-proliferation, defence issues, including staff interaction, climate change, research and higher education.
EU and Pakistan representatives also discussed questions relating to human rights, security and recent developments in the region, including the situation in Kashmir, the EEAS states in a press release. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)