Pakistan on Monday briefed the European Union on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir during the eighth round of the Pakistan-European Union Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad. The meeting, co-chaired by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, resulted in a joint communiqué that underscored the importance of respecting international treaty obligations.
Indirect Reference to Indus Waters Treaty
Although the joint statement did not explicitly mention India or the Indus Waters Treaty, both sides agreed on the significance of adhering to international treaty obligations, bilateral and regional agreements, as well as international law and international humanitarian law. This wording is significant given Islamabad's diplomatic campaign against New Delhi's decision to suspend the 1960 World Bank-brokered water-sharing pact after the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians.
EU's Cautious Stance on Kashmir
The communiqué noted that the Pakistan side briefed the EU on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, while the EU side briefed Pakistan on Russia's war in Ukraine. Both sides expressed support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the UN Charter. Importantly, the joint statement did not record any EU position on Kashmir beyond acknowledging Pakistan's briefing, nor did it contain any direct reference to India. This contrasts with past Pakistani efforts to secure stronger international backing on Kashmir, indicating that the EU remained cautious in its public positioning.
