ISLAMABAD: (PNP) Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom from August 24 to 28, with meetings planned with senior British officials, international representatives, parliamentarians and members of the Pakistani diaspora.
The Ishaq Dar UK Visit, announced by the Foreign Office on Sunday, is expected to focus on bilateral relations, regional and international developments, maritime concerns and issues affecting Pakistani nationals.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar will hold talks with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty and other senior members of the British government.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the United Kingdom are expanding cooperation in areas including migration management, border systems, law enforcement and efforts against organised criminal networks.
Ishaq Dar UK Visit to focus on bilateral and diplomatic engagement
During his five-day programme, Dar is expected to discuss a range of issues linked to Pakistan-UK relations and broader international developments.
Pakistan and the United Kingdom maintain longstanding diplomatic, economic and people-to-people ties. Britain is home to a large Pakistani-origin community, which continues to play an important role in strengthening connections between the two countries.
The Foreign Office said Dar will also engage with British parliamentarians and representatives of the British-Pakistani community.
Such engagements are expected to provide an opportunity to discuss issues affecting Pakistanis living in Britain, while also highlighting the role of the diaspora in trade, investment, education and cultural links.
The Ishaq Dar UK Visit also comes amid continued engagement between Islamabad and London on regional security and international cooperation.
Although the Foreign Office did not provide details of the full agenda, meetings with senior British officials are expected to cover matters of mutual interest and areas where both countries are pursuing closer coordination.
Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates on agenda
A key issue expected to be raised during Dar’s visit is the continued captivity of Pakistani crew members aboard the oil tanker MT Honour 25.
The Foreign Office said Dar will meet the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation to discuss the situation involving the vessel and efforts concerning the Pakistani nationals held by Somali pirates.
The MT Honour 25, carrying 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis, was reportedly hijacked near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on April 21.
Families of the crew members have expressed increasing concern about the situation, saying conditions aboard the vessel have deteriorated during the prolonged captivity.
The Pakistani government has said it remains committed to efforts aimed at securing the release of its citizens.
The issue has added a humanitarian and maritime security dimension to the Ishaq Dar UK Visit, as Pakistan seeks international engagement over the fate of the detained crew.
The case also highlights continuing concerns about maritime security in waters surrounding the Horn of Africa, despite years of international operations aimed at reducing piracy in the region.
For Pakistan, the safety of its nationals working in international shipping remains an important consular and diplomatic concern. Engagement with the International Maritime Organisation could help Islamabad coordinate with relevant international authorities and stakeholders involved in efforts to address the situation.
Commonwealth meeting and outreach to Pakistani community
During the visit, Dar is also scheduled to meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, according to the Foreign Office.
Pakistan is one of the member states of the Commonwealth, and engagement with the organisation provides Islamabad with another platform for dialogue on issues including development, governance, trade, climate challenges and international cooperation.
The meeting is expected to form part of a broader diplomatic outreach during Dar’s stay in the United Kingdom.
His programme will also include interaction with members of the British Parliament and representatives of the Pakistani community.
The Pakistani diaspora in the UK is among the country’s largest overseas communities and represents an important link between the two nations. British Pakistanis have made contributions across business, politics, healthcare, education and other sectors.
Engagement with the community is therefore likely to be an important component of the visit, particularly as Islamabad seeks to strengthen economic and people-to-people connections with overseas Pakistanis.
UK-Pakistan cooperation on crime and migration
The Ishaq Dar UK Visit takes place roughly two months after Britain announced an additional £8 million in support for joint initiatives with Pakistan aimed at tackling crime and illegal migration.
In a statement issued on June 16, the British High Commission said the commitment was announced during a visit to Islamabad by UK Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer.
According to the British High Commission, the funding is intended to support stronger border and visa systems and improve law enforcement capabilities against people-smuggling and human-trafficking networks.
The programme is also expected to assist with the return of individuals who do not have the legal right to remain in the United Kingdom.
In addition, the funding is intended to support community-based programmes in areas considered vulnerable to illegal migration, with the objective of addressing some of the underlying factors that contribute to irregular migration.
Migration has become an increasingly important area of cooperation between Pakistan and several European countries, including the UK. British authorities have sought closer coordination with countries of origin and transit to combat organised smuggling networks and strengthen immigration systems.
For Pakistan, such cooperation also involves improving law enforcement coordination while addressing the economic and social factors that can contribute to irregular migration.
Why the visit is important
Dar’s visit provides Pakistan with an opportunity to advance several diplomatic priorities through direct engagement with British officials and international institutions.
The discussions on the MT Honour 25 could help maintain international attention on the situation of the Pakistani crew members and underline Islamabad’s efforts to secure their release.
At the bilateral level, the meetings could also reinforce cooperation on migration, security and law enforcement, while engagement with parliamentarians and the Pakistani diaspora may support broader people-to-people and economic ties.
The UK remains an important diplomatic and economic partner for Pakistan, while the large Pakistani-origin population in Britain provides an additional dimension to the relationship.
As Pakistan seeks greater international economic engagement and closer cooperation with key partners, high-level visits such as the Ishaq Dar UK Visit offer an opportunity to pursue diplomatic, strategic and practical objectives simultaneously.
Conclusion
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s official visit to the United Kingdom from August 24 to 28 will bring together several strands of Pakistan’s foreign policy, including bilateral diplomacy, maritime security, migration cooperation and engagement with the Pakistani diaspora.
With meetings planned with senior UK officials, the International Maritime Organisation and Commonwealth leadership, the visit is expected to provide Islamabad with an opportunity to advance issues of direct national and humanitarian importance.
Particular attention is likely to focus on the Pakistani crew members held aboard the MT Honour 25, alongside continuing cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom on illegal migration, border management and action against organised criminal networks.
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