Canadian Foreign Minister Meets Pakistan’s Top Leadership; Counter-Terrorism, Kashmir, and Indus Waters Treaty Discussed

Islamabad: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand held separate meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during her visit to Islamabad, where both sides discussed bilateral cooperation, regional issues, and opportunities to strengthen Pakistan-Canada relations.

The meetings focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education, energy, minerals, information technology, and security. Counter-terrorism cooperation, cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and the Indus Waters Treaty were also discussed.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described Anita Anand’s visit as an important milestone in the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Canada. He said the visit reflected both countries’ commitment to broadening bilateral cooperation and strengthening institutional engagement.

Dar noted that Pakistan and Canada enjoy strong historical and people-to-people ties, particularly through the vibrant Pakistani diaspora living in Canada. Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and enhance cooperation between relevant ministries and institutions.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 welcomed Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Anita Anand @AnitaAnandMP, upon her arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad today.

The two leaders are holding talks on the full… pic.twitter.com/JI4LrfwEdU

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 20, 2026

He said economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations and that discussions were held on promoting trade and investment, facilitating business-to-business contacts, and expanding collaboration in priority sectors. Pakistan welcomed Canadian investment in education, energy, mining and critical minerals, agriculture, infrastructure, and information technology.

The two countries also agreed on a new agricultural protocol establishing phytosanitary regulations for the import of Canadian canola into Pakistan. Relevant institutions will further explore technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives in the agricultural sector.

Ishaq Dar said discussions were also held on the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA), with both sides agreeing to continue negotiations aimed at finalizing the agreement at the earliest opportunity.

Highlighting regional issues, the foreign minister said Pakistan and Canada exchanged views on Afghanistan and cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. He also raised the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains on the United Nations Security Council’s agenda.

Dar expressed concern over India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty suspended, describing it as an additional and alarming development in an already tense regional security environment. He called upon Pakistan’s international partners to support the immediate restoration of the treaty, oppose the use of water as a political weapon, and uphold international legal and treaty obligations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Canadian foreign minister at the Prime Minister’s House and reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties in areas including trade, investment, agri-food products, vaccine production, renewable energy, and the automobile and auto-parts industry.

The prime minister conveyed his best wishes to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and expressed his appreciation for Canada’s support for regional peace initiatives. He also said he looked forward to meeting his Canadian counterpart in the near future.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand thanked the Pakistani leadership for the warm welcome and conveyed goodwill wishes from Prime Minister Mark Carney. She stated that her visit was aimed at expanding bilateral engagement and exploring new avenues for economic and strategic cooperation.

Both sides acknowledged the important role played by the Pakistani community in Canada in strengthening ties between the two countries and agreed to encourage exchanges of trade and mineral sector delegations to identify new investment opportunities.

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing ceremony of the phytosanitary protocol governing the import of Canadian canola into Pakistan. The agreement was signed by Ishaq Dar and Anita Anand on behalf of their respective governments.

During her visit to the Ministry of Interior, Anita Anand also met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Discussions focused on security cooperation, combating illegal immigration, human trafficking, and cybercrime, as well as training and exchange programmes for law enforcement officials.

The two sides agreed to expedite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Canada relations across multiple sectors for mutual benefit.