Pakistan and Poland Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

Islamabad: Pakistan and Poland on Thursday reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, energy, defence, education, technology, and fintech.

The commitment came during a joint press stakeout held in Islamabad following talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and agreed to further explore untapped potential in trade and investment. “We have over a billion dollars in bilateral trade, and both sides agreed there remains immense untapped potential to further expand economic cooperation,” Mr Dar said.

He announced that Pakistan and Poland had signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) — one between the two foreign ministries to establish regular bilateral consultations, and another between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the Polish Institute of International Affairs to promote collaboration between think tanks.

Mr Dar highlighted Poland’s investment in Pakistan’s energy sector, noting that a leading Polish company had already invested nearly half a billion dollars. He said Poland’s expertise in oil and gas exploration could play a vital role in Pakistan’s energy development.

Recalling the deep-rooted historical ties between the two nations, the Deputy PM paid tribute to Polish pilots and engineers, especially Air Commodore Wladyslaw Turowicz, for their contributions to the Pakistan Air Force. “His story is a monument to the values of sacrifice, dignity, and honour,” he remarked.

Mr Dar also lauded Poland’s economic achievements, commending its transformation into a trillion-dollar economy and its successful presidency of the EU Council earlier this year. He thanked Warsaw for supporting Pakistan’s election to the UN Security Council with 182 votes and sought Poland’s continued backing for the renewal of Pakistan’s GSP Plus status in 2027.

Reiterating Pakistan’s principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Mr Dar called for its resolution in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He also expressed concerns over militant elements in Afghanistan and underlined the need for strengthening multilateralism and upholding the UN Charter.

In his remarks, Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski said Poland attached high importance to its ties with Pakistan and sought to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, finance, mining, water management, and energy. “Polish companies have long been engaged in geological services in Pakistan and see great potential for future cooperation,” he said.

He appreciated the growing Pakistani community in Poland, terming them a “bridge between the two nations,” while emphasizing Poland’s openness to legal migration and education opportunities for genuine students.

Mr Sikorski reaffirmed Poland’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the context of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling for peace based on the UN Charter and international law. He also reiterated support for a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict, stressing that both peoples deserve to live in dignity and peace.

Responding to questions, Mr Dar said the two sides were considering enhanced cooperation in railways, agriculture, and technology transfer in addition to oil and gas. On Gaza, he said both Pakistan and Poland shared a common stance that the global multilateral system must be strengthened and reformed to address conflicts such as Jammu and Kashmir, Palestine, and others

Concluding the press interaction, the two foreign ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to transforming Pakistan-Poland relations into a comprehensive, long-term, and mutually beneficial partnership.