Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar says Pakistan and the United Kingdom have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence and information technology.

Talking to the media in London today, he described his visit to the UK as successful.

The Deputy Prime Minister said he had fruitful meetings with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Secretary General of Commonwealth Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan Stephen Doughty as well as other officials, during the visit.

Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and the United Kingdom would work together to take their strategic cooperation to the next level. He said discussions with British officials also covered security, counterterrorism, economic cooperation and regional issues.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan's diplomatic engagement has strengthened significantly, with the country elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025–26 term with 182 votes.

He said Pakistan will also assume the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization.

He said the Prime Minister would soon travel to Bishkek to assume the chairmanship of the SCO, where he would also attend the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan's economy has achieved macroeconomic stability and the government is now focusing on growth, job creation and higher per-capita income.

On CPEC, he said the next phase would focus on industrial cooperation, technology transfer, agriculture, exports and business-to-business partnerships.

Replying to a question about regional issues, the Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan has categorically rejected any unilateral change to the Indus Waters Treaty and stressed that lasting peace in South Asia requires the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

On Afghanistan, he said Pakistan wants a stable and peaceful neighbour and has urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

He said Pakistan remains committed to constructive engagement with Afghanistan on security, trade, economic cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.