Pakistan, Bahrain agree to form joint trade group, push GCC free trade deal

Pakistan and Bahrain agreed to establish a joint working group on trade and investment and committed to “finalising” the GCC-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said on Thursday.

The understanding was reached during the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), co-chaired by Al Zayani and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, where the two sides signed agreed minutes covering more than 15 areas of cooperation.

“We agreed to establish a joint working group on trade and investment, to convene the joint working group on energy next month on oil, gas, and minerals, and to take forward cooperation in food security, information technology, law enforcement, media, labour mobility, health, education, culture, and sport,” Al Zayani said during a joint press conference. 

Bahrain also said it would use its presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to speed up the signing or approval of the free trade agreement, while the two countries aimed to double bilateral trade over the next three years.

Al Zayani said the bilateral relationship was “very healthy and strong” and was valued by Bahrain’s King, Crown Prince and Prime Minister and the Bahraini people. “We have to double the trade during the three years,” he said, outlining the economic target agreed by the two sides.

FM Dar said the JMC had been “comprehensive and productive”, with discussions covering agriculture, energy, sports, tourism and business-to-business cooperation.

The two sides also sought to expand cooperation in industrial collaboration, food security, skills development, higher education, information technology, logistics and maritime affairs, while strengthening engagement between their business communities.

Dar highlighted the Pakistani community in Bahrain as a bridge between the two countries and reaffirmed cooperation in labour mobility, vocational training and human-resource development for skilled Pakistani professionals and workers.

“We are on the same page,” Dar said, referring to the close coordination between Pakistan and Bahrain at bilateral and multilateral forums. He said the two countries regularly met on the margins of international meetings and remained in consultation on issues of mutual interest.

The ministers also exchanged views on the ongoing US-Iran crisis and stressed “restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy” as the means of addressing regional tensions.

Al Zayani appreciated Pakistan’s “principled positions” during the crisis, including its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and its efforts with international partners to facilitate US-Iran dialogue and de-escalation.

“We appreciate Pakistan’s efforts with partners to facilitate the dialogue between the United States and Iran, including hosting the talks in Islamabad,” Al Zayani said.

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to playing a constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.

In the press conference, both ministers stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, given their significance for regional and global food and energy security.

“Bahrain strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khaled International Airport, and the Houthi attacks on Saudi civilians and facilities, including the assaults on Mecca and Madina,” he said. “Targeting airports and civilian facilities violates international law and international humanitarian law and threatens civil aviation,” Al Zayani added.

He expressed Bahrain’s “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and conveyed condolences to the victims and wishes for the recovery of those injured.

On Palestine, FM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Palestinians and their “inalienable rights”, while expressing concern over the expansion of illegal settlements and attempts to alter the status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

“We also called for urgent and unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza and reiterated our support for a just and lasting solution in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions,” Dar said.

The ministers said they discussed Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty, with Pakistan stressing the need to ensure that foreign territory was not used against it.

FM Dar stated that India’s unilateral decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance was a “material breach of international law” and a “dangerous attempt to weaponise shared water resources”.

He said the move threatened the water, food and energy security of 250 million Pakistanis.

The Bahraini foreign minister said bilateral ties had gained momentum through recent high-level exchanges, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Bahrain in November 2025 and President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit in January 2026.

Al Zayani noted that October 14 would mark the “55 years” of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Bahrain.

He also highlighted the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad and the role of more than 140,000 Pakistanis living and working in Bahrain in strengthening ties between the two countries.

Al Zayani described the relationship as “very truthful”, saying both sides were frank with each other, understood their respective constraints and respected one another. “Now we are seeking more delivery and more results for the future,” he said.

Dar recalled Al Zayani’s support during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict and his role in efforts to facilitate US-Iran dialogue. “We meet frequently at multilateral fora, and we are constantly in touch and consult each other on international issues,” Dar said.

He also thanked Bahrain for the welcome and hospitality extended to President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz during their recent visits.

The two countries also agreed to continue coordination at the United Nations, where both are serving as non-permanent members of the Security Council. Al Zayani said the two sides would continue their coordination and joint efforts in New York and at other international forums.

Dar said the next JMC would be held in Bahrain in 2027, within 365 days of the current session, after the latest meeting had taken place five years after the previous one.

The Bahraini minister was also scheduled to call on President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Field Marshal Asim Munir during his visit.

Al Zayani said the visit had reaffirmed the “strategic nature” of Pakistan-Bahrain relations and the two countries’ determination to translate their agreements into practical outcomes for peace, stability and prosperity.

Earlier in the day, FM Dar held talks with Al Zayani in Islamabad, with the two sides discussing ways to expand cooperation in trade, economic and investment relations, the FO said in a statement on X. 

“The two Ministers reviewed Pakistan–Bahrain relations and expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in high-level engagement between the two countries,” the FO said. 

They also discussed engagement through multilateral forums and exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

“The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most viable means of addressing challenges and resolving disputes,” the FO said.

Earlier, the FO said Al Zayani was received by FM Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the two leaders were scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting and co-chair the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission.

“The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting and co-chair the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission,” the FO said in the earlier statement.

Al Zayani arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday night for a two-day visit from October 7-8 at the invitation of FM Dar. He was received at the airport by Economic Affairs Division Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim and Additional Secretary (Middle East) Zahid Hussain.