Pakistan and Croatia on Thursday agreed to undertake concrete steps to “inject greater momentum” into their political and economic relations, expanding bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of mutual interests including trade, investment, infrastructure, and visa facilitation.
“We reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Croatia relations and agreed to undertake steps to inject greater momentum toward political and economic relations as well as to enhance our cooperation in all other areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, development, agriculture, labor mobility, visa facilitation, education, defense, climate change, tourism, infrastructure, I.T., seaports collaboration,” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told a joint press conference alongside his Croatian counterpart, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman.
Acknowledging that bilateral trade remained below its true potential, the deputy prime minister said both sides agreed to revitalize economic ties, “including through encouraging B2B exchanges for common benefit.” In this regard, both sides discussed plans to hold a future business-to-business trade forum to connect private sectors and business communities of both nations.
According to Dar, Islamabad and Zagreb have decided to make an existing Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral political consultations fully functional, adding the first round of these consultations could be held later this year or early 2027.
The two leaders also announced coordinated efforts to expedite the opening of a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad, as Pakistani applicants have to travel to Iran for visa processing currently. “We greatly value people-to-people links, and therefore, Croatia would like to enable Pakistani citizens to submit visa applications in Pakistan, so they don’t need to travel abroad to apply,” Radman announced, confirming that Croatia looks forward to opening the facility soon.
Dar stressed the need to combat human smuggling and illegal migration, saying providing safe, orderly, and regular channels for migration was vital to protect the rights and lives of migrants as well as dismantle the illegal model of smuggling networks.
Highlighting the strategic geographical positions of both nations, he briefed the Croatian delegation on the capacity, facilities, and connectivity of the Karachi Port, initiating discussions on collaborative arrangements between the maritime ports of both countries. During the talks, the deputy prime minister appraised the visiting delegation on the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, suggesting a reactivation of peace efforts at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in New York.
He also raised concerns regarding India’s unilateral action of holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and sought support from friendly countries to help end the weaponization of water.
Dar further apprised the visiting delegation of security challenges originating from terrorist networks like the TTP and BLA operating out of Afghanistan, stressing the need for the interim Afghan Taliban government to abide by its international commitments and prevent the use of their soil from threatening or attacking other countries, particularly Pakistan.
Both sides also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity of resolving international conflicts in line with international law. The deputy prime minister said that Pakistan’s access to the E.U. GSP-Plus scheme remained a cornerstone of Pakistan-European Union economic cooperation. As the new GSP-Plus regulation is set to enter into force on Jan. 1, 2027, Pakistan has already initiated preparatory work for re-application in early 2027, he added.
Foreign Minister Radman said the GSP-Plus served as a catalyst for Pakistan’s integration into the global economy. He welcomed investment from Pakistani companies, highlighting that Croatia, given its excellent geopolitical position, has become an energy hub and was an open door to the European market. Mentioning the longstanding presence of Croatian companies in Pakistan, he expressed hope for an expanded market presence in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, I.T., and tourism sectors.
“With nine strategic airports and six major maritime ports, Croatia can also be a gateway for international travel and trade,” he said, emphasizing that Croatia’s railway links with Central Europe supported resilient transport, energy, and digital connectivity networks.
The two sides expressed strong convergence on major global issues, reaffirming their shared commitment to multilateralism, the U.N. Charter, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Radman welcomed Pakistan’s active engagement in the U.N. Security Council and praised its recent diplomatic mediation. “We particularly appreciate Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to end the conflict between the United States and Iran,” he said.
Calling Islamabad a “city of peace and diplomacy,” the Croatian foreign minister thanked DPM Dar for a warm welcome and hospitality, expressing hope that his visit would help intensify ties, enhance trade and investment, and explore new avenues of cooperation. He also extended an official invitation to Dar to attend the upcoming Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia at the end of June 2027.
This is the first-ever official visit by a Croatian foreign minister to Pakistan, marking a new chapter in the diplomatic history of the two countries.