Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide arrived in Islamabad on Thursday (today) for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening relations between Pakistan and Norway. The aim is to help both sides identify new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. However, this is the first visit by a Norwegian foreign minister to Pakistan in a decade and it takes place from August 13 (today) to 14.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), Eide was received at Islamabad International Airport by Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe Ambassador Ayesha Ali. Later, he arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide (@EspenBarthEide), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, arrived in Islamabad this morning on an official visit to Pakistan. He was received at the airport by Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Amb. Ayesha Ali. pic.twitter.com/Wa502xiHKD
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 13, 2026
Earlier, a statement was issued by the Foreign Office stating that the Norwegian foreign minister was visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Ishaq Dar.
During the visit, the two foreign ministers will lead the talks covering the full range of Pakistan-Norway relations. The discussions are expected to focus on ways to further expand bilateral cooperation in several important sectors. These include trade and investment, climate change, renewable energy, and education. The two sides will also exchange views on major regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a restricted-format meeting with H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide @EspenBarthEide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 13, 2026
DPM/FM warmly welcomed Foreign Minister Espen Eide to Pakistan.… pic.twitter.com/JsWI11khxq
The visit comes amid increased diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Oslo.
Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Espen Barth Eide held telephone conversations in March and April, discussing continued diplomatic contact between the two governments. Afterwards, the engagement was followed by a visit to Islamabad in May by Norway’s State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik.
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