ISLAMABAD, 13 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Pakistan and Norway have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest following delegation-level talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in Islamabad.Eide arrived in Islamabad for a two-day official visit, marking the first visit by a Norwegian foreign minister to Pakistan in a decade.During the talks, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, climate change, maritime affairs and education. They also acknowledged the important role of the Pakistani diaspora in Norway and agreed to promote stronger people-to-people contacts.Both sides expressed satisfaction over the friendly relations between Pakistan and Norway and agreed to further deepen cooperation across various sectors.The discussions also focused on regional and international developments, particularly the recent Iran-US conflict.Eide praised Pakistan’s important and constructive role in promoting peace during the conflict and acknowledged the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.In televised remarks, the Norwegian foreign minister said Norway valued its strong partnership with Pakistan and appreciated Islamabad’s efforts to promote peace and dialogue. He also highlighted the contribution of the Pakistani community in Norway, saying it had played an important role in strengthening ties between the two countries.

Eide said commercial relations between Pakistan and Norway were expanding, particularly in the energy and fertiliser sectors, with Norwegian companies showing growing interest in Pakistan.He also pointed to potential opportunities for Pakistan to expand its economic relations through cooperation involving Switzerland and Iceland.Discussing the regional situation, Eide described the ongoing conflict as a serious threat to global peace and the world economy. He commended Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate talks in Islamabad and maintain engagement with the parties involved.The Norwegian foreign minister said Norway was ready to support Pakistan’s peace initiatives, citing Oslo’s experience in mediation and its communication channels with both Tehran and Washington.Eide also offered Norway’s expertise in international maritime law and developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting Norway’s extensive experience in maritime affairs.The two sides reiterated their commitment to maintaining close coordination on regional and international issues and further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Norway.