Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide praised Pakistan’s role in mediating the US-Iran conflict on Thursday. He called it “a service to the world and, hence, also to us.” Eide made the remarks at a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad. He is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, his first as Norway’s foreign minister and the first by any Norwegian foreign minister in a decade.
Key Highlights
- Eide praises Pakistan’s mediation in the US-Iran conflict as “a service to the world”
- Norway and Pakistan hold delegation-level and restricted-format talks in Islamabad
- Discussions cover trade, investment, climate change, maritime affairs, and education
- Eide cites strong ties through Norway’s Pakistani diaspora and growing business links
- Norway offers to assist Pakistan’s peace efforts, citing its own mediation experience
Pakistan’s Iran-US mediation efforts a ‘service to the world’, says Norwegian FM
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Norway Reaffirms Support for Pakistan’s Peace Role
Eide said Norway strongly backs the role Pakistan has taken in what he called “this dramatic war,” which began on February 28 with the US-Israel attack on Iran. He noted that Norway was among the first Western countries to call the war a violation of international law. “If we stand up for international law, it has to apply to everyone, everywhere, all the time,” he said.
He acknowledged that Norway has serious disagreements with Iran on other matters, but he said Iran still has the right to be protected as a state. Turning to Pakistan’s mediation efforts, Eide said he understood how difficult the task was. He praised Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership for offering Islamabad as both venue and facilitator for the talks.
Shared Interest in Open Sea Lanes
Eide connected Pakistan’s mediation work to Norway’s own interests as a major shipping nation. He said the two countries share a stake in keeping sea lanes open and protecting free passage under international maritime law. “Whatever emerges from this tragic and unnecessary war in the Gulf, we need to protect the principle of free passage,” he said. He added that the issue affects more than the parties directly involved in the conflict and called it a shared global concern.
Eide also touched on other regional issues discussed during his visit, including Kashmir and Afghanistan. He said he welcomed learning more about the recent defense pact signed by Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia in Makkah, noting that Norway maintains close relations with all three countries.
Delegation Talks Cover Broad Bilateral Agenda
According to the Foreign Office (FO), Eide had already commended Pakistan’s mediation efforts earlier in the day during delegation-level talks with Dar. The FO said Eide specifically recognized the leadership and contributions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Dar, and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The two sides reviewed the full range of bilateral cooperation, including trade, investment, climate change, maritime affairs, and education. They also recognized the role of the Pakistani diaspora in Norway and agreed to deepen people-to-people ties. The FO said both sides expressed satisfaction with the current state of relations and agreed to expand cooperation further.
Business and Diaspora Ties Highlighted
In televised remarks, Eide pointed to the large, well-integrated Pakistani community in Norway as a factor that has strengthened bilateral ties. He noted that several prominent Norwegian politicians are of Pakistani descent. He also said business ties are growing, particularly in the energy and fertilizer sectors, with Norwegian companies showing increasing interest in Pakistan. Eide suggested that Pakistan’s cooperation with Switzerland and Iceland could offer additional avenues for expanding economic relations.
On the regional front, Eide again praised Pakistan’s leadership for its peacemaking efforts, describing the ongoing war as dangerous for both global stability and the world economy. He said Norway stands ready to help where useful, citing its own experience in peace negotiations and its continued dialogue with both Tehran and Washington.
