LONDON: Pakistan and the United Kingdom have agreed to strengthen their bilateral relations by expanding cooperation in trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence, and information technology, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar during his visit to the UK.

According to Radio Pakistan, Dar described his visit to London as successful, highlighting his meetings with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Stephen Doughty, among other officials. The discussions covered a range of topics, including security, counterterrorism, economic cooperation, and regional issues.

Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement has strengthened, evidenced by its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-26 term with 182 votes. He also noted that Pakistan will assume the chairmanship of both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization. The Prime Minister is expected to travel to Bishkek to attend the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit.

The Deputy Prime Minister reported that Pakistan’s economy has achieved macroeconomic stability, with the government now focusing on growth, job creation, and higher per-capita income. The next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will concentrate on industrial cooperation, technology transfer, agriculture, exports, and business partnerships.

Addressing regional issues, Dar stated that Pakistan has rejected any unilateral changes to the Indus Waters Treaty and reiterated that lasting peace in South Asia requires resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. On Afghanistan, he expressed Pakistan’s desire for a stable and peaceful neighbor, urging Kabul to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan. He affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to constructive engagement with Afghanistan on security, trade, and economic cooperation.