Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan and Croatia agreed on Thursday to give fresh impetus to their bilateral relationship by pursuing practical measures aimed at strengthening political and economic engagement while broadening cooperation in a range of sectors, including trade, investment, infrastructure and visa facilitation.
The understanding was reached during delegation-level talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman, whose visit marks the first official trip to Pakistan by a Croatian foreign minister.
Addressing a joint press stakeout alongside his Croatian counterpart after what he described as “warm, constructive, and comprehensive” talks, DPM Dar said that the two sides conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral ties and resolved to deepen collaboration across numerous fields.
These include trade, investment, development, agriculture, labour mobility, education, defence, climate change, tourism, information technology, infrastructure, visa facilitation and cooperation between the maritime sectors of both countries.
Dar noted that although bilateral trade had shown encouraging growth, it remained far below its actual potential.
The two sides agreed to intensify economic cooperation by promoting stronger business-to-business engagement for mutual benefit. They also discussed organising a dedicated B2B forum in the future to bring together entrepreneurs and private-sector representatives from both countries.
He further announced that Pakistan and Croatia had agreed to fully operationalise the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral political consultations, with the inaugural round expected to be held either later this year or during the early months of 2027.
The two sides also agreed to accelerate efforts to establish a Croatian visa processing centre in Islamabad. At present, Pakistani citizens seeking Croatian visas must travel to Iran to complete the application process.
FM Radman said Croatia highly valued direct people-to-people interaction and wanted Pakistani applicants to be able to submit visa requests within Pakistan, eliminating the need to travel abroad. He confirmed that his government was looking forward to opening the visa facility in Islamabad in the near future.
Highlighting the importance of addressing irregular migration, Dar stressed that expanding safe, legal and well-managed migration pathways would protect migrants' rights while helping dismantle criminal human smuggling networks.
Emphasising the strategic geographical importance of both countries, the deputy prime minister briefed the Croatian delegation on the capabilities, connectivity and facilities of Karachi Port, while proposing closer cooperation between the seaports of Pakistan and Croatia.
During the discussions, Dar also briefed the visiting delegation on the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the continuing conflict in Gaza, calling for renewed international peace initiatives at the 2026 session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
He also expressed Pakistan's concerns over India's decision to suspend implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty and appealed to friendly nations to support efforts aimed at preventing the use of water as a political weapon.
The deputy prime minister further highlighted the security threats posed by militant organisations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which he said were operating from Afghan territory. He urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to fulfil their international obligations by ensuring Afghan soil is not used to launch attacks against neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan.
The two ministers also exchanged views on the conflict in Ukraine, underlining that global disputes should be settled peacefully and in accordance with international law.
Discussing Pakistan's economic partnership with Europe, DPM Dar said the European Union's GSP Plus trade arrangement remained a key pillar of Pakistan-EU relations.
With the revised GSP Plus framework due to take effect on January 1, 2027, he said Pakistan had already begun preparations to submit its fresh application early next year.
In his response, FM Radman described GSP Plus as an important instrument that had supported Pakistan's integration into the international economy.
He also encouraged greater investment by Pakistani businesses, saying Croatia's strategic location had made it an important energy hub and an ideal gateway to European markets.
Referring to the longstanding presence of Croatian companies in Pakistan, he expressed optimism about expanding commercial cooperation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information technology and tourism.
FM Radman noted that Croatia's network of nine strategic airports, six major seaports and railway links with Central Europe offered strong opportunities for international trade, transport and digital connectivity.
The two countries also reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism, adherence to the UN Charter and the peaceful resolution of international disputes, observing broad agreement on key global issues.
The Croatian FM commended Pakistan's active role at the United Nations Security Council and praised its recent diplomatic initiatives.
He specifically appreciated Pakistan's mediation efforts that led to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending tensions between the United States and Iran.
Describing Islamabad as a "city of peace and diplomacy", Radman thanked the Pakistani leadership for its warm hospitality and expressed confidence that his visit would further strengthen bilateral relations, increase trade and investment, and open new avenues for future cooperation.
FM Radman invited Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to participate in the Dubrovnik Forum, which will be held in Croatia at the end of June next year.
Earlier today, Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Dr. Gordan Grlić Radman, reached Pakistan for a one-day official visit, marking a significant milestone in relations between the two countries.
The visiting minister was received at the airport by the Director General (Europe-I) of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said that Pakistan is eager to deepen its partnership with Croatia by enhancing cooperation in areas where both countries share common interests.
The FO added that during the visit, officials from the two sides will assess the current state of bilateral relations and discuss fresh opportunities to broaden collaboration across sectors of mutual importance.
The trip holds historic significance as it is the first official visit to Pakistan by a Croatian foreign minister.