Croatia and Pakistan Agree to Expand Trade and Visa Ties

Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman conducted the first-ever official visit by a Croatian foreign minister to Pakistan on July 9, 2026. During the one-day mission to Islamabad, Radman met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to sign a joint declaration aimed at deepening cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, information technology, and defense.

A primary outcome of the visit is the commitment to expedite the opening of a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad, removing the requirement for Pakistani applicants to travel to third countries. The two nations also agreed to revitalize political consultations and explore partnerships between their seaports, focusing specifically on the Karachi Port.

In addition to economic ties, the leaders discussed regional stability. Radman praised Pakistan's mediation role regarding the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, as well as its diplomatic efforts toward peace in the Middle East. In return, Pakistan reaffirmed its goal to re-enter the European Union's GSP+ framework by January 2027. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded the visit by extending official invitations to Croatian President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to visit Pakistan.