ISLAMABAD
Poland’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Maciej Pisarski, on Thursday praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role in promoting peace and mediation amid rising international tensions, stressing that dialogue and cooperation remained the only viable path to resolving global conflicts.
The ambassador expressed these views while addressing a “Meet the Press” session at the National Press Club Islamabad, attended by journalists, diplomats and members of the media community.
Upon his arrival at the club, Ambassador Pisarski was warmly received by NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial, Secretary Dr Furqan Rao, Vice President Usman Khan and other members of the NPC cabinet.
Welcoming the envoy, Abdul Razzaq Sial said the National Press Club highly valued engagement between diplomats and journalists, adding that such interactions promoted mutual understanding, constructive dialogue and stronger people-to-people contacts between nations. He said Pakistan’s media community appreciated Poland’s positive role in strengthening bilateral relations and encouraging regional peace.
NPC Secretary Dr Furqan Rao said diplomacy and responsible journalism were essential tools for promoting global harmony and countering misunderstandings during times of international uncertainty. He also appreciated the Polish Embassy’s continued outreach and engagement with Pakistani journalists and media institutions.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Pisarski highlighted Pakistan’s growing diplomatic importance, particularly in relation to tensions involving the United States and Iran.
“Only a few countries maintain relations with both parties involved in the conflict. This reflects the trust both sides place in Pakistan despite existing concerns,” he remarked while appreciating Islamabad’s mediation efforts.
The ambassador described Pakistan-Poland relations as “warm, friendly and steadily expanding” across multiple sectors, adding that his visit to the press club reflected the importance Warsaw attached to engagement with Pakistan’s media and civil society.
He said Poland strongly supported diplomacy and negotiations for reducing tensions in the Middle East and elsewhere, expressing hope that ongoing mediation efforts in the region would succeed.
Referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ambassador Pisarski said the war should be resolved in line with United Nations resolutions and internationally recognized principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“These are not only European values, but universal human values,” he stated.
Discussing bilateral ties, the envoy said recent high-level exchanges had opened a “new chapter” in cooperation between the two countries.
He referred to the recent visit of Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski to Pakistan, during which he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.
According to the ambassador, the meetings created new opportunities for political, economic and strategic cooperation, while follow-up contacts between the foreign ministers of both countries had continued after the visit.
He also referred to recent discussions in Warsaw involving Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, where cooperation in counter-narcotics, law enforcement and curbing illegal migration came under discussion.
Highlighting economic ties, Ambassador Pisarski said bilateral trade between Pakistan and Poland had reached around $1.3 billion and was steadily growing. He identified technology, management, information technology and investment as sectors offering strong potential for future collaboration.
The envoy noted that several Polish companies were already operating successfully in Pakistan and encouraged Pakistani businesses to benefit from the European Union’s GSP Plus trade framework to expand exports to European markets.
“The purpose of GSP Plus is not to secure advantages for Europe alone, but to improve opportunities for the people and support economic growth,” he said.
Ambassador Pisarski further said both countries were working to strengthen exchanges in culture, academia and think tanks to deepen mutual understanding.
On defence cooperation, he described bilateral defence ties as important and said both countries were making efforts to revive momentum lost during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ambassador also praised Pakistan’s tourism potential, especially for Polish mountaineers and adventure tourists. Recalling the achievements of renowned Polish climber Wanda Rutkiewicz, he noted that she became the first woman to summit K2 in 1986, reflecting the longstanding connection between Polish climbers and Pakistan’s northern mountain regions.
Commenting on South Asian affairs, Ambassador Pisarski stressed that Pakistan and India could achieve greater prosperity through cooperation, dialogue and regional connectivity.
“We would like to see improved relations between Pakistan and India because cooperation and dialogue can bring greater benefits to the entire region,” he said, while emphasizing that negotiations remained the best way to address longstanding disputes.
He also addressed concerns related to irregular migration through Belarus into Europe, saying Poland had initiated open discussions with Pakistan on the issue during recent diplomatic engagements.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Pisarski reiterated Poland’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Pakistan in diplomacy, trade, defence, culture and regional peace initiatives, while underscoring the importance of continued dialogue for global stability.
