Poland’s deputy minister arrives in Islamabad on 2-day visit Azad News HD

Introduction

On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, landed in Islamabad for a two-day official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The visit marks a significant milestone in the relations between the two countries, and comes after a gap of fourteen years since Sikorski’s last official trip to Pakistan, which was in 2011.

This bilateral visit provides a timely opportunity for both Warsaw and Islamabad to reaffirm and expand their cooperation across multiple fronts: political, economic, security, cultural and educational. It also reflects broader shifts in regional and global geopolitics, and underscores Pakistan’s efforts to diversify its diplomatic and economic partnerships. In what follows, we examine the backdrop of the relations, key features of the visit, agenda items, potential outcomes, and the challenges and prospects ahead.

Historical and Strategic Context of Pakistan–Poland Relations

The diplomatic relations between the two nations date back decades, and have evolved from modest beginnings into a multifaceted partnership. According to the historical record, relations between Poland and Pakistan were formally established on 17 December 1962. Given the geopolitical distance and different spheres of influence, the bilateral relationship has always been underpinned by mutual goodwill and periodic opportunities rather than deep strategic entanglement.

Over recent years, the cooperation has steadily deepened. For example, during the 9th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) held in Warsaw on July 4, 2025, the two sides reviewed “the entire spectrum of bilateral relations” and reaffirmed their desire to intensify cooperation in trade, investment, energy, security and higher education.

From Pakistan’s perspective, expanding ties with an EU member such as Poland brings added value: a gateway into European markets, technology and investment, and a partner in global institutions. From Poland’s viewpoint, Pakistan offers a strategic foothold in South Asia—an important region given the shifting global balance of power, China’s Belt & Road initiatives, and evolving dynamics in energy and migration flows.

Trade ties between the two countries have grown modestly but steadily. According to reports, bilateral trade reached approximately US$922 million in 2023, with Pakistan’s exports to Poland at about US$794 million and imports from Poland around US$128 million. While this trade volume remains modest compared with Pakistan’s deals with larger economies, it nonetheless signals growth potential and latent complementarities.

The visit of Sikorski thus comes at a time when both capitals recognise an opening to deepen engagement. Pakistan, grappling with economic challenges and looking to boost investment and exports, sees Poland as a partner. Poland, in turn, is seeking to diversify its foreign links beyond Europe and to engage with the Global South more actively.

The Visit – Key Features and Agenda

Timing and Significance

The visit takes place on October 23–24, 2025. As noted, this is Sikorski’s second official visit to Pakistan and the first in fourteen years.
The invitation extended by Senator Ishaq Dar signals Pakistan’s intent to place this engagement at the level of top leadership rather than technical diplomacy. The Pakistan Foreign Office statement described the visit as “marking a significant milestone in Pakistan–Poland relations”.

Planned engagements

During his stay, Sikorski is scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with his counterpart Ishaq Dar, followed by delegation-level talks between the two foreign ministries. The agenda is expected to cover the “full spectrum of bilateral relations”. More specifically, publicly announced items include:

Discussions on economic cooperation, trade and investment between Poland and Pakistan.
A focus on security issues, including migration and possibly defence collaboration.
A signing (or at least negotiation) of a new cooperation agreement between the Polish and Pakistani foreign ministries.
An address by Minister Sikorski at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

These items suggest the visit is structured not just for photo-op diplomacy but for substantive dialogue and possible outcomes in multiple sectors.

Symbolic aspects

Beyond the official agenda, the visit carries symbolic weight. The re-engagement of a senior Polish official signals that Poland attaches increasing importance to South Asia. For Pakistan, hosting a European foreign minister at this level underscores its diplomatic relevance and its ability to engage diverse partners. The two-day timeframe may seem short, but high-level visits of this nature often aim to accelerate decision-making or set the stage for follow-up work rather than conclude comprehensive deals in situ.

Priorities for Pakistan and Poland

Pakistan’s priorities

From Pakistan’s standpoint, the visit offers several opportunities:

Boosting exports and trade diversification: While Pakistan exports a significant value to Poland already, there remains scope to expand in sectors such as textiles, agriculture, light manufacturing, and possibly services. Increased trade helps offset Pakistan’s heavy reliance on a small set of markets.
Attracting Polish investment: Poland has EU membership and access to European markets and institutions; Pakistani officials will likely emphasise investment opportunities in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, IT, and manufacturing. Polish companies can offer European-standard technology, management practices, and a gateway to broader Europe.
Defence and security collaboration: Pakistan faces multiple security challenges—terrorism, border tension, climate-induced disasters, and migration flows. A partnership with Poland could open avenues in defence equipment, training, intelligence sharing, and maritime cooperation. Indeed, past consultations between the two countries flagged defence cooperation as an emerging area.
Migration, mobility and education linkages: Pakistan will want to improve opportunities for its students, professionals and diaspora in Europe. It may seek easier visa arrangements, scholarships, collaboration between universities, and mobility programs.
Multilateral cooperation: Pakistan may look to Poland as a partner in international forums (United Nations, OSCE, EU-Asia dialogues), leveraging Poland’s EU membership. Statements from Pakistan’s ambassador emphasise shared commitment to the UN charter, peacekeeping, and global governance.

Poland’s priorities

For Poland’s part, the visit helps advance several strategic interests:

Diversification of foreign engagement: As Europe grapples with shifting geopolitics (Russia-Ukraine war, Middle East instability, China’s rise), Poland is actively seeking partnerships beyond its traditional European periphery. Engagement with Pakistan is part of that broader outreach.
Access to South Asian markets and supply chains: Pakistan, with its large population and strategic location, offers access to South Asian markets, manufacturing and transit routes (including Gwadar, CPEC-related corridors). Polish companies may see Pakistan as a base for exports or a partner in logistics.
Energy and raw material cooperation: Poland has experience in gas, mining and energy diversification; Pakistan can be a site for exploration, investment and technological cooperation (as alluded to in reports about PGNiG’s engagement in Pakistan since 1997).
Security cooperation and migration management: Poland, as a frontline EU country in terms of migration and hybrid threats, could exchange best practices with Pakistan, which itself is a major source of migration and transit population. Collaboration in migration management, border security and counter-terrorism may thus become a focus.
Political voice inside EU forums: Poland could act as a European interlocutor for Pakistan, helping Islamabad navigate EU rules on trade, investment, development cooperation, and migration. For example, Poland may advocate for Pakistani interests in European institutions or bilateral EU initiatives.

Expected Outcomes and Potential Areas of Cooperation

With the agenda set, we can anticipate several possible outcomes from this two-day visit, though given the time constraints it is unlikely that comprehensive treaties will be signed on the spot. Instead, deliverables may include memoranda of understanding (MoUs), frameworks for cooperation and joint task-forces to further work in key sectors.

Possible outcomes

Signing of a ministry-level cooperation agreement between the Polish and Pakistani foreign ministries, as noted in the initial press release.
Commitment to deepen trade and investment – perhaps Poland pledging to open an investment office in Islamabad or Pakistan signaling incentives for Polish investors.
Initiation of a defence/security dialogue – a working group or joint committee on defence cooperation, migration, or border management.
Educational and cultural linkages – MoUs between universities, scholarship programs, Polish study-abroad for Pakistani students, exchange of scholars or cultural delegations.
Energy/technology cooperation – pilot projects in Pakistan backed by Polish companies or shared technological expertise (for example in gas, mining, infrastructure or renewables).
Joint statements on global issues – reaffirming commitment to multilateralism, freedom of navigation, respect for sovereignty, UN charter principles, regional peace (e.g., South Asia, Europe, Middle East), and climate resilience.

Sectors of cooperation

Based on publicly available statements, particular sectors stand out:

Trade & investment: With trade already at US$922 million (2023 figure) and a large imbalance favouring Pakistani exports, there is room to diversify and up-value trade (Poland increasing its exports to Pakistan).
Defence/security: The July 2025 BPC meeting flagged defence cooperation among priority areas.
Migration/mobility: A shared interest in managing mobility flows, labour migration, student mobility, and diaspora linkages.
Energy & natural resources: Historical involvement of Polish firms in Pakistan’s oil & gas sector, and rising interest in renewables.
Science, technology & education: Pakistan views Poland as a partner for higher education and science cooperation.
Cultural/people-to-people relations: Strong ground-level networks (diaspora, students, academic exchanges) to deepen mutual understanding.

Challenges and Realities

While the visit is promising, it also comes with several underlying challenges and must be seen in the context of realities on the ground.

Economic constraints

Pakistan is currently facing significant economic pressures: fiscal deficits, foreign exchange constraints, inflation, and external debt. While interest from Poland is welcome, the Pakistani side must ensure competitive investment climate, stability of policies, and ease of doing business to attract Polish capital meaningfully.

From Poland’s side, any investment abroad will prudently assess risk-adjusted returns, political and economic stability, regulatory transparency and security environment. Hence, for cooperation to deepen, Pakistan must meet these prerequisites or offer mitigating incentives.

Trade and market access issues

While Pakistani exports to Poland are already substantial, these may be concentrated in a few sectors (e.g., textiles). Poland’s exports to Pakistan remain modest, suggesting that barriers (tariffs, logistics, regulatory hurdles, standards) need to be addressed. For Poland to increase its exports, Pakistan must provide market access, predictable regulation, and fair treatment.

Security and geopolitical sensitivities

Pakistan occupies a complex regional environment (Afghanistan, India-Pakistan tensions, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, maritime security in the Arabian Sea). For Poland, engagement in South Asia must align with broader European foreign policy and NATO commitments. This means Poland must navigate carefully and ensure that cooperation with Pakistan does not run counter to its EU or NATO obligations.

Similarly, Pakistan must consider how deepening relations with European countries like Poland aligns with its existing partnerships (China, Middle East, Russia) and how it balances these in its foreign policy.

Implementation gap

High-level visits often generate enthusiasm, political declarations and MoUs—but the real test lies in follow-through, implementation, resource allocation and monitoring. Both sides will need to commit institutional mechanisms (joint working groups, secretariats, monitoring frameworks) to ensure that promises translate into concrete outcomes.

External influences

The global geopolitical environment is unstable: supply chain disruptions, energy price volatility, climate change challenges, migration flows, and security threats (terrorism, maritime piracy, cyber-threats). These may impact bilateral cooperation. Moreover, European dynamics (internal Poland-EU relations, Poland’s budgetary constraints, EU enlargement, Russia-Ukraine war) could affect Poland’s capacity to engage externally.

Why the Visit Matters – Deeper Significance

Beyond the immediate agenda, this visit carries deeper strategic and symbolic significance.

A signal of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach

For Pakistan, engaging a senior European leader at this level sends a message: despite economic and security challenges, Pakistan remains open for business and willing to engage broadly. It also portrays Pakistan as a country seeking diversified partnerships rather than being reliant on a single bloc or region.

Poland’s pivot beyond Europe

While Poland is firmly anchored in Europe (EU member, NATO ally), this visit signals its ambition to engage beyond the continent—towards Asia, Africa and the Global South. It reflects a recognition that in a multipolar world, partnerships beyond traditional neighbours are increasingly important.

A bridge between Europe and South Asia

Poland can serve as a bridge between Pakistan and the European Union—opening channels for Pakistani goods, services and investment into EU markets, and facilitating European investment into Pakistan through a Polish lens. This dynamic may be particularly useful for Pakistan as it seeks fresh investment, technology transfer, and trade diversification.

A catalyst for new cooperation models

Rather than simply replicating bilateral relationships that Pakistan has with traditional partners, this engagement may lead to novel cooperation models: Polish companies operating in Pakistan as a base for regional exports; joint ventures with Polish technical expertise and Pakistani labour/markets; multi-country corridors; cultural and educational linkages with Polish universities acting as gateways to Europe for Pakistani students.

Reinforcing multilateralism and values

Both countries emphasise shared commitment to the UN Charter, rules-based order, respect for sovereignty and international cooperation. The visit gives an opportunity to reinforce these values in a world facing rising authoritarianism, fragmentation and conflict. Diplomatic gestures such as this help sustain multilateral engagement and underscore the role of smaller but dynamic partnerships in global governance.

Key Messages Likely to Emerge

From Pakistan’s side, the messages likely to emerge from this visit include:

Pakistan’s desire to strengthen trade and investment ties with Poland, and to diversify its export markets.
Pakistan’s openness to defence and security cooperation with European partners.
Pakistan’s willingness to engage in higher education, technology and cultural exchanges with Poland.
Pakistan’s aspiration to cooperate with Poland within multilateral frameworks and to utilise Poland’s EU membership for broader linkages.

From Poland’s side, the messages may include:

Poland’s commitment to strengthening ties with Pakistan and the wider South Asia region.
Poland’s interest in exploring investment and trade opportunities with Pakistan.
Poland’s readiness to engage Pakistan in security, migration, energy and education cooperation.
Poland’s desire to reinforce multilateral diplomacy and cooperation with partners beyond Europe.

Outlook — What to Watch Next

Although the visit is short, its ripple effects may extend well beyond the two days. Some of the things to watch in coming weeks or months include:

Follow-up mechanisms: Will there be joint working groups established? Will the foreign ministries set deadlines or action plans? Will there be a timetable of projects or MoUs flagged during the visit?
Trade/investment announcements: Are Polish companies going to announce new investment or joint ventures in Pakistan? Will Pakistan announce incentives or pilot projects to attract Polish capital?
Defence/security collaboration: Will there be concrete steps such as training exchanges, joint patrols, equipment procurement or intelligence sharing agreements?
Education/cultural links: Will Polish universities sign memoranda with Pakistani institutions? Will scholarship programs be expanded?
Media and public diplomacy: What narrative emerges in Pakistani and Polish media? Is the visit portrayed as deepening engagement or just symbolic?
Regional and multilateral alignments: Will Pakistan use Poland as an entry point to the EU institutions? Will Poland help Pakistan navigate European export or investment regimes?
Implementation and deliverables: Ultimately, the success of this visit depends on delivering tangible outcomes—not just statements. Will the two sides allocate budgets, staff and timelines to the initiatives discussed?

Case Study: Trade Figures and Opportunity Gaps

To illustrate the upsides and gaps in the relationship, consider the following trade data and opportunity areas:

As noted, bilateral trade in 2023 was about US$922 million. Out of that, Pakistani exports to Poland were about US$794 million, while Polish exports to Pakistan stood at about US$128 million.
The large trade imbalance in favour of Pakistan indicates strong export orientation from Pakistan, but also suggests limited penetration of Polish products in the Pakistani market. That could be due to regulatory hurdles, lack of awareness, logistical difficulties, or simply that Polish firms have not pushed into that market deeply.
Opportunity areas for Polish exports might include machinery, precision engineering, renewable energy technology, IT/telecom solutions, defence equipment, and value-added goods.
Pakistan, for its part, could benefit from Polish know-how in manufacturing, mining, gas exploration, renewable energy, training, and higher education linkages.
The success of trade expansion will depend on handles such as: improving transport links, simplifying customs/regulatory procedures, harmonising standards, facilitating business-to-business contacts, and leveraging Polish firms as gateways into EU markets.

Security & Defence Dimension

One of the more interesting dimensions of this visit is defence and security cooperation. While historical Pakistan–Poland defence ties have not been extensive, recent consultations (such as the July 2025 BPC) have flagged defence cooperation as a priority.
Possible areas of collaboration include:

Training of Pakistani defence personnel by Polish institutions, or vice-versa joint training exercises.
Procurement of equipment: Poland, having defence production capacity and NATO-integrated supply chains, may offer certain platforms, technologies or services that fit Pakistan’s requirements (especially if cost-effective).
Maritime security: Given Pakistan’s strategic location on the Arabian Sea, and Poland’s inherited experience in maritime logistics and defence, there may be room for cooperation in guarding sea lines of communication, anti-smuggling and narcotics operations.
Cybersecurity and hybrid threats: Poland has developed capabilities to counter hybrid warfare, disinformation and migration flows; cooperation with Pakistan in these domains may be mutually beneficial.
Migration and border management: Given global migration pressures and Poland’s experience as an EU border state, it may share best practices with Pakistan in managing migration flows, diaspora integration and return mechanisms.

Security cooperation always carries sensitivities, especially for Pakistan with its multiplicity of partners (China, Turkey, Russia, etc.). For Poland, any defence ties must align with NATO/EU policies, must respect international norms, and avoid unintended strategic entanglements. Hence, practical steps will likely begin modestly and grow gradually.

Education, Culture & People-to-People Links

Often overlooked though critically important are the people-to-people and educational links. These links help cement long-term relationships beyond high-level diplomacy.

Pakistan and Poland share some historical connections: during World War II, Polish refugees found sanctuary in British India and Pakistan’s predecessor territories, and Polish soldiers served in various theatres. The two countries recently recalled “the glorious pages of Polish–Pakistani history” during their July 2025 consultations.
Building on this, the visit may highlight:

Scholarships and exchange programmes: Pakistani students may receive more access to Polish universities; Polish institutions may open branches or partnerships in Pakistan.
Joint research and technology collaboration: In areas such as agriculture, renewable energy, mining, IT, science and engineering.
Cultural diplomacy: Film, music, arts, heritage exchanges which raise awareness of each society in the other country.
Diaspora engagement: Pakistani diaspora in Poland and Polish community or representation in Pakistan can function as bridges for business and cultural engagement.

Strengthening these links helps ensure that bilateral relations are not only transactional but also rooted in lasting human ties and mutual understanding.

Climate, Energy & Sustainable Development Cooperation

A modern dimension of international engagement is cooperation in climate change, sustainability and green energy. Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, flooding and environmental stresses. Poland, meanwhile, has undergone its own energy transition and has competence in mining, gas infrastructure, renewables and environmental remediation.

Therefore, the visit may catalyse initiatives such as:

Joint projects in renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) in Pakistan with Polish technical input.
Cooperation in climate resilience, flood mitigation and disaster-risk management.
Transfer of technology for cleaner coal, gas exploration and mining practices if applicable.
Collaboration in research on adaptation, sustainable agriculture, water management and rural livelihoods.

Given that both countries emphasise multilateral values and global governance, such cooperation would align with global agendas such as the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Regional and Global Implications

While the bilateral dimension is the primary focus of the visit, regional and global implications are also noteworthy.

South Asia and Europe linkages

Poland engaging Pakistan helps forge a link between Europe and South Asia. As the Indo-Pacific region becomes more salient in global geopolitics, European countries are increasingly interested in engaging in South Asia, and Pakistan is an important actor in that region. Poland’s visit thus reflects a broader European interest in engaging with South Asia not solely through traditional partners.

Multilateral diplomacy and institutional cooperation

Pakistan’s ambition to play a more active role in multilateral institutions (e.g., the UN Security Council, given its involvement in peacekeeping, and its upcoming role) finds a sympathetic partner in Poland, which emphasises rules-based international order. The visit may lead to joint positions in multilateral forums, coordinated outreach in the EU-Asia dimension, and cooperative diplomacy on issues like climate change, migration, disarmament, and maritime security.

Energy and supply-chain diversification

Given global shifts in energy and supply-chain realignment (post-COVID, Russia-Ukraine war, China’s trajectory), countries are seeking diversified partners. Poland’s interest in energy and raw materials, and Pakistan’s potential as a transit location (via CPEC, Gwadar, ports) suggest there may be convergence in supply-chain logistics and energy cooperation.

Migration, diaspora and mobility

Migration flows are increasingly salient to European security and politics. Poland’s experience as a frontier EU state dealing with migration, and Pakistan’s role as a large migrant-origin country (as well as transit) mean both sides can share knowledge. Cooperation in this field helps build trust, deepen security cooperation and open legal pathways for mobility.

Risks, Constraints and the Road Ahead

As with any diplomatic engagement, the road ahead is not without risks and constraints.

Political fluctuations: Change in government, shifts in policy priorities in either country could slow progress. High-level visits often generate momentum, but follow-through depends on consistent political will.
Economic instability: Pakistan’s macroeconomic vulnerabilities (debt, inflation, foreign reserves) might limit its ability to implement large investment deals or guarantee returns for foreign investors.
Geopolitical tensions: Pakistan’s regional environment is complex; escalation of regional conflicts (India-Pakistan, Afghanistan instability, China-US tensions) may affect foreign investment climate and international engagement. In addition, Poland must navigate relations with Russia, EU internal politics and NATO commitments—which may limit how deeply it engages in South Asia.
Implementation gap: Many high-level visits produce declarations rather than deliverables. Ensuring follow-through—budget allocations, project management, monitoring—is essential.
Market barriers: Regulatory, logistical, tariff and quality barriers may inhibit trade growth unless both sides take concrete steps to reduce friction.

Nonetheless, the prospects are encouraging. If both sides demonstrate sustained commitment, the visit can lead to a step-change in the relationship rather than simply symbolic diplomacy.

Conclusion

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski’s two-day official visit to Islamabad on October 23–24, 2025, represents a strategically significant moment in Pakistan-Poland relations. It symbolises the willingness on both sides to elevate the bilateral partnership, move beyond incremental cooperation and explore deeper engagement in trade, investment, security, education, energy and multilateral diplomacy.

For Pakistan, the visit offers a chance to diversify its partnerships, attract European investment, boost exports, and strengthen global linkages at a time when it faces economic and security challenges. For Poland, it signals an outward-looking foreign policy seeking partners beyond the European neighbourhood, a connection to South Asia, and a role in global governance and supply-chain diversification.

What matters now is translation of the visit’s momentum into concrete actions: agreements with timelines, working groups with measurable deliverables, business-to-business linkages, defence and education collaborations, and institutional mechanisms to monitor progress. The real test will be whether this visit initiates new trajectories in cooperation rather than simply renewing old contacts.

In a world of shifting alliances and multipolar dynamics, partnerships such as the one between Pakistan and Poland underscore that meaningful diplomacy is not just about the major powers—but also about those countries willing to bridge continents, share knowledge and find common ground. The Sikorski visit embodies precisely that spirit, and if managed well it can generate lasting benefits for both nations.