ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will undertake a five-day official visit to the United Kingdom from August 24 to 28, where he is expected to hold talks with senior British officials and discuss bilateral, regional, and international issues.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar will meet UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty and other senior government officials during his visit. He is also scheduled to meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and engage with British parliamentarians and representatives of the Pakistani community.

A key part of Dar’s visit will be his meeting with the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez. Discussions will focus on the Pakistani crew members being held hostage by Somali pirates aboard the MT Honour 25 oil tanker. Ten Pakistani sailors are among the hostages, who have reportedly been held since April following the vessel’s hijacking off the coast of Puntland, Somalia.

Dar is also expected to meet UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell to discuss regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and broader international developments.

The visit comes as Pakistan seeks to strengthen its relations with major international partners. Talks with British officials are expected to cover trade, investment, political cooperation, security, cultural ties, and the role of the Pakistani diaspora in the UK.