Pakistan foreign minister Ishaq Dar to visit UK for high-level talks
Five-day visit will include meetings with British officials, Commonwealth and maritime bodies
By The South Asia Times
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit the United Kingdom from Aug. 24 to 28 for high-level talks with British officials and international organizations, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday.
During the official visit, Dar is scheduled to meet UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Foreign Office Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty, as well as other senior members of the British government.
Dar will also meet the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to discuss Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates aboard the MT Honour 25 oil tanker, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The Pakistani foreign minister is also scheduled to meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey during the five-day visit.
The ministry said Dar would engage with British parliamentarians and representatives of the British-Pakistani community as part of his visit.
The trip comes as Islamabad seeks to strengthen its bilateral relationship with London and expand cooperation on political, economic and security issues.
The meeting with the IMO leadership is expected to focus on efforts concerning the Pakistani crew members aboard the tanker and broader maritime security concerns.
The Foreign Ministry said the visit would provide an opportunity for Pakistan and the UK to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen engagement at bilateral and multilateral levels.
Dar’s visit begins Monday and concludes Friday, according to the ministry’s schedule.
