The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, agreed, on Tuesday 7 December, to further strengthen the mutual engagement between the EU and Pakistan, especially on security and regional cooperation. 2022 will mark 60 years of the EU-Pakistan relationship.
In the joint statement, issued at the end of the 6th round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, they agreed to hold the first meeting of the new EU-Pakistan Security Dialogue with sub-groups on Non-proliferation and Disarmament, and Counter-terrorism in 2022. The European side further welcomed the progress made by Islamabad in implementing the Financial Action Task Force Action Plans and the ongoing efforts to address the remaining actions.
“The EU has been, is and will be an important trading partner for Pakistan”, Mr Qureshi told the media ahead of the meeting.
In their statement, Mr Borrell and Mr Qureshi expressed a strong political commitment to the GSP+ and the implementation of 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and good governance that are linked to it. They reaffirmed their determination to strengthen and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms with a focus on freedom of religion and belief and the rights of minorities.
The High Representative and the minister also discussed the importance of decisive global action on climate adaptation and building climate resilience.
They also agreed on the importance of continued engagement with Afghanistan to promote stability and to counter narcotics and the threat of terrorism.
Speaking to the press, Mr Borrell called for “ working together to prevent the socio-economic situation from deteriorating further, to support regional stability and to ensure the protection and respect of the Afghan people, their rights and dignity”. Highlighting the looming humanitarian crisis, the Pakistani minister warned that the collapse of the Afghan economy could be catastrophic. “How can we work, collectively, to avoid these disasters?”, he asked. He announced an extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on 19 December on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Mr Qureshi also expressed his country’s support for the EU’s inclusion in the regional political consultation mechanism on Afghanistan.
The High Representative and the minister also discussed Kashmir, including the human rights situation. Mr Borrell reiterated the need to exercise restraint, ease tensions and resolve the conflict through dialogue and constructive political and diplomatic engagement.
See the joint statement: https://bit.ly/3ozoKBF (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)