LONDON, August 26, 2026: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met a cross-party group of Pakistan-origin British parliamentarians at Pakistan House in London, where discussions focused on strengthening Pakistan-UK relations, regional peace and developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Lord Zameer Choudrey, Lord Qurban Hussain, Baroness Shaista Sheehan and Lord Shaffaq Mohammed, along with Members of Parliament Mohammad Yasin, Yasmin Qureshi, Afzal Khan, Zubir Ahmed and Adnan Hussain.
Senator Ishaq Dar appreciated the important contribution of British parliamentarians of Pakistani origin towards strengthening bilateral relations and their continued advocacy for a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The British lawmakers praised Pakistan’s leadership and diplomatic efforts for peace and de-escalation in the Middle East. They said Pakistan’s historic role in regional diplomacy had received international recognition and was a source of pride for overseas Pakistanis.
The Deputy Prime Minister briefed the parliamentarians on Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting peace and reducing tensions in the Middle East. He stressed that implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by all parties would be essential for achieving lasting peace and stability.
Senator Dar also highlighted the significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in promoting regional peace and stability, stressing that the agreement was purely defensive in nature.
The meeting also covered recent political developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The visiting parliamentarians congratulated Senator Dar on the PML-N’s victory in the recent legislative assembly elections.
Senator Dar said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had placed their confidence in the PML-N because of its record of promoting economic growth and development. He said the new government would focus on infrastructure development, investment and employment opportunities for the region’s youth.
He added that the Federal Government and the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir would work together with other political parties and stakeholders to develop consensus on key governance and constitutional matters.
The parliamentarians exchanged views on a range of issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
