Islamabad: Pakistan and Norway have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that Afghan territory is not used to threaten or attack other countries. The reaffirmation was made during the visit of Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to Pakistan, as detailed in a Joint Communiqué issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Radio Pakistan, both nations expressed serious concerns over the presence of terrorist entities in Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of combating terrorism in all its forms in compliance with international law and UN Security Council resolutions. The Norwegian side acknowledged the security threats faced by Pakistan and encouraged efforts to address these concerns while upholding international law.
The communiqué also highlighted concerns regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls, and restrictions on freedoms such as education and expression. Economically, both countries discussed enhancing trade and investment ties, focusing on port connectivity, shipping links, and Pakistan’s IT exports to Norway.
Both sides expressed interest in strengthening trading relations and continuing cooperation under the Joint Declaration of Cooperation between Pakistan and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). They agreed on the importance of a multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core and supported WTO reform through a member-driven process.
In education, the value of programs like the Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (Norpart) and Norway’s scholarship scheme for students from developing countries was noted. The two sides commended mutual support at international platforms, including the United Nations, and agreed to further cooperation on candidatures to international bodies.
Discussions also covered regional conflicts, with Pakistan briefing Norway on Jammu and Kashmir and mediation efforts in the Iran-US conflict, while Norway updated on Russia’s war against Ukraine. Both sides expressed support for peaceful conflict resolutions through dialogue and diplomacy, as per the UN Charter.
The situation in Palestine was also addressed, with both countries welcoming efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and underscoring the necessity of adhering to ceasefire commitments and facilitating humanitarian aid. They reaffirmed support for a two-state solution based on international law and UN resolutions.
The communiqué concluded with both nations underscoring their resolve to strengthen multilateralism, uphold the UN Charter, and promote peace, sustainable development, and human rights.