ISLAMABAD: United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Dominic Raab arrived in Islamabad on Thursday night on a two-day visit to Pakistan.
Raab was welcomed by foreign ministry and British High Commission officials after he landed at Nur Khan Airbase. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will hold official talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. The talks will cover the evolving situation in Afghanistan and bilateral matters.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said British Foreign Secretary Raab is also scheduled to have interaction at the leadership-level.
It added that Pakistan and the United Kingdom have been closely engaged on the latest developments in Afghanistan.
In the bilateral context, Prime Minister Imran Khan had comprehensive exchange of views with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson telephonically on 18 August 2021 in which they exchanged views on Afghanistan and agreed to remain in touch
Prime Minister Imran had highlighted the extensive measures taken by Pakistan to contain COVID-19. He said data had been shared with the UK and called for the removal of Pakistan from Britain’s ‘red’ travel list.
Foreign Minister Qureshi and Dominic Raab also discussed the situation in Afghanistan twice last month. The visit will reinforce the current momentum in high-level exchanges.
A day earlier, Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag arrived in the country to discuss the Afghan situation, while German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had also visited last month and met Qureshi and Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit.
