ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan and Norway have agreed to further strengthen cooperation across several 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 earlier in the day for a two-day official visit, marking the first visit to Pakistan by a Norwegian foreign minister in a decade.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 and H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide @EspenBarthEide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, led delegation-level talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides reviewed the whole gamut… pic.twitter.com/2yrfD8Lm0b
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 13, 2026The Foreign Office said the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, climate change, maritime affairs and education. They also recognised the role of the Pakistani diaspora in Norway and agreed to promote stronger people-to-people ties.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the friendly state of Pakistan-Norway relations and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The discussions also covered regional and international developments.
Eide praised Pakistan's role in promoting peace during the recent Iran-US conflict, including the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Dar and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
In televised remarks, Eide said Norway valued its strong partnership with Pakistan and praised Islamabad's efforts to promote peace. He also highlighted the contribution of the Pakistani community in Norway, saying it had helped strengthen ties between the two countries.
The Norwegian foreign minister said commercial relations between the two countries were expanding, particularly in the energy and fertiliser sectors, with Norwegian businesses showing increasing interest in Pakistan.
He also pointed to potential opportunities for Pakistan to expand economic relations through cooperation involving Switzerland and Iceland.
On the regional situation, Eide described the ongoing war as a serious threat to global peace and the world economy and commended Pakistan's efforts to facilitate talks in Islamabad and maintain engagement with the parties involved.
He said Norway was prepared to support Pakistan's peace initiatives, citing Oslo's experience in mediation and its communication channels with both Tehran and Washington.
Eide also said Norway could contribute to discussions on international maritime law and developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz, given its extensive experience in maritime affairs.
Strengthening bilateral ties
H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide (@EspenBarthEide), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, arrived in Islamabad this morning on an official visit to Pakistan. He was received at the airport by Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Amb. Ayesha Ali. pic.twitter.com/Wa502xiHKD
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 13, 2026Eide was received at Islamabad International Airport by Additional Foreign Secretary Ayesha Ali.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a restricted-format meeting with H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide @EspenBarthEide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway. DPM/FM warmly welcomed Foreign Minister Espen Eide to Pakistan.… pic.twitter.com/JsWI11khxq
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 13, 2026The Foreign Office said the two ministers held a meeting in a restricted format, during which they discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.
Dar welcomed Eide to Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad's interest in expanding cooperation with Norway in areas of mutual benefit.
PR No. 2️⃣0️⃣9️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Curtain Raiser: Visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister to Pakistan ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/unWEL2b9hz
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 12, 2026The two sides are scheduled to hold delegation-level discussions covering trade and investment, climate change, renewable energy, education and people-to-people contacts.
They will also exchange views on key regional and international issues.
Eide is visiting Pakistan from August 13 to 14 at Dar's invitation. His visit follows recent high-level contacts between the two countries, including telephone conversations between Dar and Eide in March and April.
Norwegian State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik also visited Islamabad in May.
The Foreign Office said the Norwegian minister's visit would help build on existing relations and identify further opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and Norway.