Norwegian FM Espen Barth Eide says he discussed Jammu & Kashmir with Pakistan’s FM Ishaq Dar

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Thursday that he discussed the Kashmir issue with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during his official visit to Islamabad.

Eide, on the first visit by a Norwegian foreign minister to Pakistan in a decade, held talks with Dar covering bilateral relations and regional/international developments. In a joint press interaction, Eide stated he had discussed “other regional issues during the visit as well, ranging from the Kashmir issue to Afghanistan.”

Dar briefed the Norwegian side on the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He told them that India had “added a new dimension to an already volatile security situation by unilaterally announcing the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty in contravention of international law,” and reiterated that “India must end the weaponisation of water and uphold its treaty obligations under international legal obligations.”

The visit also focused heavily on bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, climate change, renewable energy, education, maritime affairs, and people-to-people ties, as well as Pakistan’s mediatory role in the US-Iran conflict, which Eide strongly praised as “a service to the world.” The two sides reaffirmed commitment to strengthening ties, including in defence and security.

Eide also met Field Marshal Asim Munir.