Canada’s Indian-origin Foreign Minister Anita Anand paid a visit to Pakistan on Monday, marking the first trip by a Canadian foreign minister to the country in nearly two decades. The visit highlighted Ottawa’s renewed focus on strengthening diplomatic, economic and security ties with Islamabad.
During the one-day visit, Anand announced a new assistance package worth more than 47 million US dollars, aimed at supporting Pakistan’s development priorities, strengthening security cooperation and expanding bilateral partnerships.
The visit included meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and senior military leadership. Discussions focused on trade, investment, regional security, clean energy, migration and institutional cooperation.
More Than $47 Million Announced for Security and Development
The newly announced Canadian package includes funding for both security initiatives and development programmes across Pakistan.
According to Global Affairs Canada, 2.2 million US dollars has been allocated for security cooperation projects involving international agencies such as Interpol, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), working alongside the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation.
The projects are designed to improve border management, strengthen counterterrorism capabilities, enhance financial crime investigations and combat transnational organised crime. Canadian officials stated that the new funding builds upon years of cooperation between the two countries in addressing security challenges.
The remaining 45 million US dollars has been committed to development initiatives that target education, climate resilience and healthcare.
The package includes:
- 10 million US dollars to help restore educational access for children affected by devastating floods through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- 15 million US dollars for climate resilience programmes in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.
- 20 million US dollars to expand reproductive healthcare and family planning services through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Canadian officials said these investments aim to support vulnerable communities while contributing to Pakistan’s long-term social and economic development.
Security Cooperation Remains a Major Focus
Security cooperation emerged as one of the central themes of Anand’s visit.
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Pakistan continues to face security challenges from militant violence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has further increased pressure on the country’s security agencies.
Canadian officials emphasised that the new security assistance is intended to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to combat terrorism, improve law enforcement coordination and address organised cross-border crime through international partnerships.
The discussions also covered regional stability and broader counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.
Trade and Investment Receive Fresh Momentum
Apart from development assistance, both governments agreed to accelerate efforts aimed at expanding economic cooperation.
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Officials confirmed that Canada and Pakistan will continue negotiations on a Canada-Pakistan Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) following a second round of talks held in Canada in June 2026.
Speaking during a joint media interaction in Islamabad, Anita Anand said the proposed investment agreement would create greater certainty for businesses from both countries and encourage long-term investment.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar invited Canadian businesses to explore investment opportunities across several sectors, including education, renewable energy, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, information technology and critical minerals.
Both governments also agreed to strengthen institutional dialogue through regular consultations and closer coordination between ministries.
Clean Energy Partnership Gains Importance
Renewable energy cooperation featured prominently during the meetings.
Both countries expressed interest in expanding collaboration in solar power, wind energy and battery storage technologies as part of broader efforts to support clean energy development.
Anand highlighted Canadian company JCM Power’s planned 240-megawatt Dhabeji hybrid wind-solar project, which is being developed in partnership with Karachi Electric, as an example of growing commercial cooperation in Pakistan’s renewable energy sector.
She also referred to Canadian mining company Barrick Gold’s investment in the Reko Diq copper and gold project, describing it as another significant example of expanding bilateral economic engagement.
Reko Diq is regarded as one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits, with estimates suggesting it could produce around 200,000 tonnes of copper and 250,000 ounces of gold annually over several decades. However, the project has faced repeated delays due to infrastructure limitations, legal disputes and security concerns.
Kashmir and Indus Water Treaty Raised During Talks
Regional political issues also formed part of the bilateral discussions.
According to Pakistani officials, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar raised the Kashmir issue, describing it as an unresolved matter on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.
Dar also urged Canada to support the restoration of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and stressed the importance of respecting international agreements and treaty obligations.
India suspended implementation of the treaty after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people lost their lives. The decision followed allegations that Pakistan-backed militants were responsible for the attack.
Meeting with Pakistan Army Chief
During her visit, Anita Anand also met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
According to Pakistan’s military media wing, the discussions focused on regional peace, counterterrorism cooperation and broader security issues affecting South Asia.
The meeting reflected Canada’s broader engagement with Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership during the high-level visit.
A New Phase in Canada-Pakistan Relations
Anita Anand’s visit marks an important step in rebuilding high-level diplomatic engagement between Canada and Pakistan after nearly twenty years.
The announcement of over 47 million US dollars in assistance, combined with renewed discussions on investment protection, renewable energy, trade and security cooperation, indicates that both governments are seeking a broader and more structured partnership.
While regional security issues, including terrorism, Kashmir and the Indus Water Treaty, remain sensitive topics, both sides signalled their intention to maintain dialogue and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest, laying the groundwork for stronger bilateral relations in the years ahead.
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