Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Thursday appreciated Pakistan’s mediatory role in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, describing it as a “service to the world and, hence, also to us.”
“I also really want to reiterate our strong support for the very important role that Pakistan has taken in this dramatic war that started on Feb. 28 with the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran,” Eide told a press conference alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad. “If we stand up for international law, it has to apply to everyone, everywhere, all the time,” he stressed, noting that Norway had “significant disagreements with Iran,” but Tehran nonetheless had a right to be protected as a state.
“I know what a massive task you were taking on when you offered Islamabad not only as the venue but also as the facilitator of these talks,” he said of Pakistan’s mediatory role between Iran and the U.S. “What you have been doing is really a service to the world, and hence, also to us,” he said. This is especially relevant to Norway, he said, as the country is a large shipping nation.
“We share an interest in open sea lanes and the ability to trade in the high seas, and to respect the Constitution of the Oceans,” he said, emphasizing the need to protect the principle of free passage.
He said he had discussed several regional issues with Dar during the visit, including the Kashmir dispute and Afghanistan. Additionally, he said he was glad to learn more of the Makkah Accord defense agreement between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. “These are three countries with whom Norway has very good and close relations,” he said.
Eide recalled that he was the first Norwegian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in 10 years. “So it was about time,” he said. “I promised you many months ago that I would come, and today, I live up to my promise. I was looking forward to this visit, which is short but very effective,” he said of the two-day visit.
“We have a sizeable diaspora of Pakistani descent … Many of them are in key positions of politics and society and are a very welcome contribution to our country; and the fact that we have so many people who know these two countries intimately is yet another argument for strengthening our economic ties,” he said.
The Norwegian foreign minister said Oslo and Islamabad were discussing strengthening economic ties “in the context of specifics” and enhancing trade ties in more structural ways. He also mentioned climate change and floods in Pakistan, saying that the two sides agreed it was a foreign policy issue.
“And if you need one additional argument for stopping wars apart from relieving suffering and ending economic harm, it is that mankind should collectively try to focus on the real issues that require real cooperative action,” he emphasized.
During his turn at the podium, the deputy prime minister said the two countries had agreed to enhance their ties and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, education, defense, climate change, I.T. and maritime affairs. He said Pakistan greatly valued its ties with Norway, adding it looked forward to further strengthening these ties in the days, weeks and months to come. He said Pakistan looked forward to hosting the next round of bilateral political consultations in Islamabad later this year.
Dar said the two sides also agreed that bilateral trade between Norway and Pakistan was “below the potential of both economies and needs to be enhanced through effective measures.” He said “renowned Norwegian company Yara International” is establishing a joint venture in plant nutrition with the Fauji Fertilizer company. “I hope this initiative will be a trailblazer for many more future projects between our two great countries,” he added.
He further described Pakistan’s partnership with Norway in the field of technology “a success story.”
According to the foreign minister, there is a convergence of perspectives between the two countries on climate change. “It is heartening to note that Pakistan and Norway signed the MoU under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on April 1 this year,” he said, adding the two sides also held talks on cooperation in maritime affairs.
He said he had told the visiting dignitary that Pakistan was “one of the world’s largest ship recycling facilities, and our strategic location makes it the most competitive and nearest recycling destination in this maritime region for ships coming from Norway.” Pakistan and Norway have also decided to boost people-to-people contacts, he said, serving as both social and cultural bridges between the two countries.
“We agreed to continue work on legal pathways for Pakistan’s skilled manpower, expressing the need to combat human smuggling and illegal migration. Both sides agreed that by providing safe, orderly and regular migration channels, we not only protect migrants’ rights and lives but also dismantle the illegal model of smuggling networks,” he said.
Dar said both Pakistan and Norway shared a commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes. “Our two countries remain actively engaged on issues related to the U.N. Security Council, and the two sides have strong convergence of views on major issues,” he said. “Building on our previous experience of working together in international bodies and multilateral fora, both sides affirm their desire to continue mutual support and consultations on such forums,” he added.
The deputy prime minister said he had also briefed the Norwegian foreign minister and delegation on the Kashmir issue. He said he told them that India had added a new dimension to an already volatile security situation by unilaterally announcing the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty in contravention of international law. “We reiterate that India must end the weaponization of water and uphold its treaty obligations under international legal obligations,” he said.
The foreign minister said he had also briefed the Norwegian foreign minister on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for promoting dialogue, de-escalation and peaceful settlement of the U.S.-Iran conflict. He thanked him for appreciating Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the conflict. Similarly, he said he had broadly discussed the Makkah defense pact with the visiting dignitary.
“We agreed on the need to find peaceful solutions to the international conflicts in full respect of the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter,” he said. “I thank his excellency, my dear friend, for his visit. I am confident that this visit will open a new chapter in Pakistan-Norway relations and will contribute to greater cooperation and mutual prosperity for the people of both countries in the years ahead,” he added.