DPM Dar to undertake five-day official visit to UK | The Express Tribune

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will undertake a five-day official visit to the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to discuss Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates aboard the MT Honour 25 oil tanker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Sunday.

According to MoFA, FM Dar is scheduled to visit the UK from August 24-28.

During the visit, Dar is due to meet UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office minister of state for Pakistan, Stephen Doughty, as well as other senior UK government officials.

MoFA said the meeting with the IMO secretary-general would focus on “the issue of Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates aboard the MT Honour 25 oil tanker”.

Dar will also meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. The foreign ministry said the deputy prime minister would also “engage with British parliamentarians and representatives of the British-Pakistani community”.

Ten Pakistani sailors, who have been held hostage since April, are among the crew of the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker that was hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia.

Read: Dar to embark on UK trip next week

Besides the Pakistani crew members, the hostages include seven Indonesians, including the captain, as well as an Indian and a Sri Lankan. There has been no progress either in negotiations or the payment of the ransom, said to be around $3 million.

The visit assumes significance against the backdrop of Pakistan’s increasingly visible diplomatic role in regional and international affairs, with Islamabad seeking to translate its recent diplomatic engagements into stronger relations with major powers.

Diplomatic sources said Dar’s visit would provide an opportunity to further consolidate Pakistan’s ties with the United Kingdom and discuss a range of bilateral, regional and international issues.

The sources said Pakistan’s recent role in facilitating peace efforts and de-escalation in the Middle East had enhanced its diplomatic profile, with major powers, including the UK, acknowledging Islamabad’s contribution to regional stability and mediation efforts.

They also pointed to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, saying the trilateral arrangement had further highlighted Pakistan’s growing role in collective security, strategic cooperation and peace in the region.

A key engagement during Dar’s visit will be his meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, according to the diplomatic sources.

The two sides are expected to review the full spectrum of Pakistan-UK relations and explore ways to deepen political, economic and institutional cooperation. Discussions are likely to cover trade and investment, cultural cooperation, people-to-people contacts and the contribution of the Pakistani diaspora in Britain.

Read More: Somali pirates demand $3m ransom

The two foreign ministers are also expected to exchange views on major regional and international developments, particularly the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East.

Dar is also expected to meet UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell for discussions on regional and international security issues.

According to the sources, the meeting is likely to focus on regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation and intelligence-sharing, besides broader developments affecting international peace and security.

As part of his multilateral engagements, Dar is also expected to meet International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

The meeting will focus on Pakistan’s longstanding cooperation with the IMO and its commitment to safe, secure and efficient international shipping, the sources said.

The visit comes at a time when Pakistan is seeking to broaden and deepen its engagement with key international players amid rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics.