Pakistan, Norway Forge Stronger Ties Across Security, Trade

Pakistan and Norway agreed to deepen cooperation on counter terrorism, migration, trade, climate and maritime affairs, praising Pakistan’s regional peace role and boosting people to people links.

Pakistan and Norway agreed on Friday to deepen cooperation across security, trade, climate and people to people ties during high level talks in Islamabad. Delegations led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide held substantive talks at the Foreign Office and Ministry of Interior.

Officials said the two sides signed forward looking commitments on counter terrorism, prevention of illegal immigration, police training and mutual legal assistance. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that “Pakistan stands like a wall between the world and terrorism,” and urged coordinated international action to eradicate militant networks using Afghan soil.

Both countries highlighted a sharp drop in irregular migration from Pakistan after Islamabad’s steps to curb illegal flows. Mr. Naqvi noted that “illegal immigration to Europe has dropped by 47 percent,” a figure he said reflected Pakistan’s intensified border management and migration reforms.

Economic and commercial cooperation featured prominently. Mr. Dar and Mr. Eide agreed bilateral trade remains below potential and pledged measures to boost investment and market access. Dar underscored Pakistan’s incentives for foreign investors and pointed to the imminent joint venture between Yara International and Fauji Fertilizer Company as a model for future projects.

The Norwegian foreign minister praised Pakistan’s role during recent regional tensions, calling Islamabad’s contributions “important and constructive.” He also lauded the Pakistani diaspora in Norway for its social and economic contributions and said Norwegian companies were keen to expand operations in Pakistan.

Technology and maritime ties were singled out as growth areas. Dar said Pakistan’s IT exports to Norway “have grown more than five-fold in just two years,” and invited Norwegian partners to leverage Pakistan’s ship recycling facilities and strategic maritime location. Norway pledged technical support to align Pakistan’s ship breaking sector with international conventions.

Both sides also discussed climate cooperation, education exchanges and expedited finalisation of memorandums of understanding under negotiation. The talks closed with a shared commitment to strengthen people to people links and deepen diplomatic engagement amid a fraught regional security environment.

Officials framed the visit as an inflection point for broader ties: a combined focus on security, trade and practical cooperation intended to translate diplomatic warmth into measurable projects and investments.