Bahrain's foreign minister arrives in Islamabad for two-day visit
Bahrain’s foreign minister arrives in Islamabad for two-day visit
ISLAMABAD: Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day official visit. The Bahrain foreign minister will join Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to co-chair the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission, with the visit centred on boosting bilateral cooperation across trade, investment and other fields.
The visit was confirmed as the Bahraini minister landed in the federal capital. Dawn reported that the two foreign ministers will lead the JMC session and discuss ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries.
Third JMC session
The Joint Ministerial Commission is the principal bilateral forum between Pakistan and Bahrain. Its inaugural session was held in Islamabad in February 2017, and the second session held expert-level talks on commerce, investment, energy, overseas employment, agriculture, information and tourism. The third session is expected to review progress since then and set new targets for the coming years.
Commissions of this kind typically produce agreements on labour mobility, investment protection and sectoral cooperation, all areas where Pakistan has sought deeper Gulf partnerships.
Warm ties, busy year
Pakistan and Bahrain describe their relationship as warm and brotherly, with a large Pakistani community living and working in the kingdom. The visit follows a busy year of engagement: in July, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Bahrain’s interior minister in Manama on counter-terrorism, human trafficking and narcotics cooperation, and the two sides agreed to strengthen their joint security committee.
Deputy Prime Minister Dar has stayed in close contact with his Bahraini counterpart, speaking by phone earlier this year on regional de-escalation and Middle East developments, and reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with Bahrain and its people.
Bahrain foreign minister visit: what to watch
The JMC session will be watched for announcements on trade facilitation, investment and manpower exports, the traditional pillars of the relationship. With the Gulf region on edge over the Iran war and its spillover, the two ministers are also expected to exchange views on regional security and stability.
Frequently asked questions
Who is visiting Pakistan?
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, on a two-day official visit to Islamabad.
What is the Joint Ministerial Commission?
The main Pakistan-Bahrain bilateral forum, now meeting for its third session. It covers trade, investment, energy, labour, agriculture and other areas of cooperation.
Why does the visit matter?
It sustains high-level engagement with a key Gulf partner at a time of regional tension, with a large Pakistani community living and working in Bahrain.
