ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom has welcomed the reported US-Iran peace agreement, acknowledging Pakistan’s role in facilitating diplomatic efforts that contributed to the breakthrough.
During a two-day visit to Pakistan, the UK Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hamish Falconer, met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad. He praised Pakistan’s contribution in helping bring the United States and Iran to the negotiating table, saying it created a significant opportunity for peace and stability in the region.
Falconer stated that the United Kingdom would continue working with Pakistan and other partners to turn this diplomatic progress into lasting peace and regional stability.
He also announced additional UK support worth £8 million to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in combating illegal immigration, human trafficking, and organized crime. The funding aims to improve border management systems, enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies, and disrupt human trafficking networks.
The program will also support the return of individuals who do not have legal permission to stay in the UK and will fund community-level initiatives in areas with high migration pressure.
The UK minister emphasized that the partnership between the United Kingdom and Pakistan is vital for global, regional, and UK national security, particularly in counterterrorism, visa fraud prevention, and transnational crime control.
During his visit, Falconer is also expected to observe operational measures supported by UK assistance at Pakistani airports, where authorities identify and stop suspicious or fraudulent visa cases to ensure only eligible passengers and students travel to the UK.
He also met Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, where discussions focused on Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions, resumption of dialogue, and security threats originating from Afghanistan.
