Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad holds talks with British, Japanese envoys on bilateral ties, regional developments

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad held separate meetings with the British and Japanese ambassadors Wednesday, discussing ways to strengthen Pakistan’s relations with both countries and exchanging views on important regional and international developments.

The diplomatic engagements reflected Pakistan’s continued efforts to maintain close consultations with key international partners, expand areas of bilateral cooperation and promote dialogue on issues of mutual interest.

The Foreign Secretary received British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the two sides reviewed Pakistan-United Kingdom relations and discussed regional and global developments, according to the Foreign Office.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the evolving international situation and reaffirm the importance of continued diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and London.

Pakistan and the United Kingdom maintain longstanding relations supported by historical connections, strong people-to-people links, educational and cultural exchanges, and cooperation across several fields. The Pakistani community in Britain also remains an important bridge between the two countries, contributing to their social, economic and cultural ties.

In a separate engagement, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad met Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi to discuss ways of further strengthening the multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and Japan.

The discussions focused on advancing bilateral cooperation and maintaining regular exchanges between the two countries on matters of shared interest. The meeting also reflected the importance Pakistan attaches to its relationship with Japan, a key partner in Asia with longstanding diplomatic, economic and development ties with Islamabad.

Pakistan and Japan have traditionally maintained cooperation in areas including trade, investment, infrastructure development, education, technology and human resource development. Continued diplomatic interaction provides an opportunity to explore further avenues for collaboration and strengthen institutional links.

The Foreign Secretary’s separate meetings with the British and Japanese envoys underscored Pakistan’s commitment to an active diplomatic engagement with its international partners. Through regular consultations, Islamabad seeks to deepen bilateral relationships while exchanging views on regional and global developments that have implications for international peace, stability and cooperation.