Pakistan, Croatia agree to deepen strategic, economic partnership

-- Dar proposes port collaboration, trade forum and regular political consultations

-- Croatia backs stronger economic engagement, invites Pakistani investment

-- Pakistan seeks support on Indus Waters Treaty, Kashmir and counterterrorism

-- Both sides reaffirm commitment to multilateralism, UN Charter and regional peace

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Croatia on Thursday agreed to inject fresh momentum into their bilateral relationship by expanding cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, labour mobility, defence and maritime sectors, while reaffirming their shared commitment to multilateralism, international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The understanding was reached during talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Croatia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, who is on a one-day visit to Pakistan.

Addressing a joint press conference, Dar said both countries occupied strategically important geographical locations and could leverage their positions to unlock "enormous potential" for economic growth and regional connectivity.

He said he briefed the Croatian foreign minister on the capabilities of Karachi Port and discussed the possibility of establishing collaborative arrangements between the ports of the two countries, describing connectivity as central to sustainable development, regional stability and global economic integration.

Dar termed the bilateral discussions "warm, constructive and wide-ranging", saying both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of relations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, information technology, education, defence, climate change, tourism, infrastructure, labour mobility and seaport development.

The two countries also agreed to operationalise the existing memorandum of understanding on political consultations between their foreign ministries by holding regular meetings. Pakistan offered to host the inaugural round of consultations in the last quarter of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027.

On the economic front, Dar acknowledged that bilateral trade remained well below its true potential despite an encouraging upward trend. Both sides agreed to revitalise commercial ties through enhanced business-to-business engagement and explored the possibility of organising a joint trade forum involving the private sectors of both countries.

Inviting Croatian companies to benefit from Pakistan's investor-friendly policies, Dar also reaffirmed that the European Union's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) remained a cornerstone of Pakistan-EU economic cooperation. He said Pakistan had already begun preparations for reapplying under the revised GSP+ framework scheduled to take effect in January 2027.

The deputy prime minister said the two sides also agreed to expedite the finalisation of several pending agreements and memorandums of understanding, while work was underway to establish a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad, eliminating the need for Pakistani applicants to travel to Tehran.

Labour mobility also featured prominently in the discussions, with both countries agreeing to develop legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers while jointly combating human smuggling and irregular migration.

Dar said cooperation would also be expanded between agricultural and research institutions, extending an invitation to scholars from the University of Zagreb to visit Taxila, one of the ancient world's leading centres of learning.

Welcoming the Croatian delegation, Dar described the visit as the first high-level trip from Croatia in many years and an important milestone in strengthening bilateral ties.

For his part, Radman described Pakistan as an important partner and said relations between the two countries were founded on friendship and mutual respect.

Expressing confidence that the visit would enhance trade and investment, he encouraged greater participation by Croatian companies in Pakistan, particularly in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, defence, digital technology, tourism and fuel production.

He also invited Pakistani businesses to invest in Croatia, highlighting the country's strategic location as a gateway to European markets. He pointed to Croatia's expertise in humanitarian demining, civil protection, disaster management and transport infrastructure, including its network of maritime ports, airports and rail links.

The Croatian minister reaffirmed support for strengthening multilateralism and praised Pakistan's engagement with the European Union through the GSP+ framework, describing it as an important driver of Pakistan's integration into the global economy.

He invited Dar to pay an official visit to Croatia and announced that Pakistan's deputy prime minister would be the first foreign minister invited to attend the Dubrovnik Forum in June 2027. Radman also invited Pakistani female police officers to participate in Croatia's UN-certified peacekeeping training programme.

During the talks, Dar briefed his counterpart on the situations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Gaza, Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty.

He urged Croatia to support Pakistan's call for the immediate restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty, describing India's decision to hold the treaty in abeyance as an illegal attempt to weaponise water and undermine international treaty obligations.

Dar also highlighted Pakistan's concerns over the continued presence of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and other militant groups operating from Afghan territory, stressing that the Afghan Taliban must prevent the use of their territory for attacks against neighbouring countries.

Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed on the need for enhanced international cooperation to combat the threat.

Radman also commended Pakistan's diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran, describing Islamabad's mediation efforts as an important contribution to regional peace.

The two ministers exchanged views on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Western Balkans, agreeing that international disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

Concluding the talks, Dar reaffirmed that Pakistan and Croatia remained committed to strengthening cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral forums, while Radman welcomed Pakistan's constructive role as a member of the UN Security Council in promoting dialogue, consensus and international peace and security.