Islamabad: At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, undertook an official visit to Pakistan from 7-8 October 2026. During the visit, he held bilateral discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister and called on the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He also called on the Chief of Army Staff/Chief of Defence Forces.
Joint declaration issued by the Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister Al Zayani co-chaired the 3rd Session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides held detailed discussions on bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment; agriculture and food security; energy; maritime affairs; information technology and telecommunications; health and education; labour and manpower; and people-to-people contacts. They also discussed measures to strengthen connectivity and promote greater interaction between the peoples of the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister underscored the importance Pakistan attaches to its longstanding and brotherly relations with Bahrain and emphasized the need to translate the close bilateral ties into tangible outcomes for the peoples of the two countries. He stressed the importance of effective implementation of agreed outcomes through institutional mechanisms, including Joint Working Groups, as well as regular follow-up.
Foreign Minister Al Zayani reaffirmed Bahrain's commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors. He also acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Pakistani community to Bahrain's development and prosperity.
At the conclusion of the 3rd Session of the JMC, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries signed the Protocol of the meeting. They also agreed to convene the 4th JMC in Manama next year.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments and discussed cooperation at multilateral forums, including the United Nations. Foreign Minister Al Zayani elaborated on Bahrain's position regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and commended Pakistan's diplomatic role during the recent crises in the region, including at the United Nations Security Council. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister underscored Pakistan's principled positions on Palestine, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, and terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan.
The visit provided an opportunity to review progress in bilateral relations and impart further momentum to cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain. It also reaffirmed the shared commitment of the two countries to further deepen their close and fraternal relations.