(MENAFN) During a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held talks focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, according to reports. The discussions covered shared interests, including peace and security, counterterrorism, climate change, and broader regional and global developments.

Rutte acknowledged Pakistan’s "contributions to regional peace and stability," praising the country’s efforts in combating terrorism. Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, emphasized Islamabad’s "desire and efforts for a peaceful, and stable South Asia" and highlighted "the importance of constructive dialogue and cooperation." He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s "unwavering commitment to combating terrorism."

Dar noted that "the threat of terrorism that Pakistan continues to encounter is primarily supported and perpetrated from beyond its borders," adding that Islamabad is "actively implementing measures to counter these threats." Reports indicated that Pakistan experienced a 46% increase in "overall violence in its security landscape" during the third quarter of 2025 compared with the previous quarter, according to a local security think tank.

Both officials "further reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing mutually beneficial engagement between Pakistan and NATO, agreed to continue working closely together to address common challenges and further strengthen their partnership for the promotion of peace and security in the region and beyond." Following the meeting, Rutte remarked on social media that "European and South Asian security are intertwined, and close cooperation is essential for promoting stability and prosperity."

In a separate engagement, Dar met with the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela, to discuss "the importance of enhancing mutually beneficial collaboration between Pakistan and the EU across all areas of shared interest."

This marks the first meeting between a Pakistani foreign minister and the NATO chief since 2021, when Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Jens Stoltenberg. Dar arrived in Brussels on Wednesday for a three-day visit to co-chair the 7th session of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue.

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