RAWALPINDI – Pakistan’s top military leader held high-level talks with Norway on regional security and defence cooperation as Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi.
The meeting brought Pakistan-Norway relations and regional security into focus, with the two sides discussing matters of mutual interest and opportunities to expand bilateral engagement.
Field Marshal Asim Munir shared Pakistan’s perspective on global peace and regional stability, stressing that growing security challenges require stronger coordination and collective efforts among countries.
The discussions also underscored importance of cooperation in addressing shared security challenges, reflecting Islamabad’s emphasis on collaborative approaches to maintaining regional stability.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide appreciated the professional role of Pakistan’s armed forces in promoting peace and stability in the region, according to the information shared about the meeting.
The talks also opened the door for deeper engagement between Pakistan and Norway in the defence and security sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to strengthen bilateral ties and broaden cooperation, particularly in areas linked to defence and security.
The high-level engagement comes as Pakistan continues to emphasise diplomatic cooperation and regional stability, while seeking stronger partnerships with international counterparts on emerging security challenges.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the US and Iran during his first visit to Pakistan by a Norwegian foreign minister in a decade.
Speaking alongside Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Eide said Pakistan had contributed to global peace efforts and stressed the need to keep international sea routes open, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, which handles around one-fifth of global oil shipments and a quarter of seaborne LNG exports.
The two sides also discussed expanding bilateral trade, with current trade standing at $198 million in FY2022-23. Dar highlighted a planned Yara International joint venture in Pakistan’s plant-nutrition sector.
Pakistan and Norway also agreed to pursue legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers while tackling human smuggling and irregular migration. Both sides further discussed stronger economic cooperation through EFTA, with Pakistan currently assessing a possible free trade agreement with the bloc.
