Pakistan Tightens Grip on India’s Allies in Europe: Signs Major Deal with Poland

New Delhi: Pakistan is now shifting its focus toward Europe, targeting nations with strong ties to India. In recent months, Islamabad has been actively strengthening political and economic relations with Poland, one of India’s long-standing friends in the region.

High-Level Engagement

According to Pakistani media reports, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski visited Pakistan in October to explore enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defense, education, and counter-terrorism. During the visit, both countries formalized a significant bilateral deal, particularly emphasizing collaboration in mining and energy, building on the success of Polish oil and gas projects in Pakistan.

Expanding Bilateral Trade

A report in Pakistan’s leading English daily The Dawn highlighted that historic ties—dating back to Polish refugees in Karachi and Quetta during World War II and Poland’s role in the Pakistan Air Force—have evolved into a $1 billion annual trade partnership. Both nations have agreed to boost cooperation across trade, energy, infrastructure, science and technology, and education.

India-Poland Ties Under Pressure

India and Poland have shared a long-standing friendly relationship, marked by high-level political exchanges and robust economic activity. Diplomatic relations were established in 1954, followed by the opening of the Indian Embassy in Warsaw in 1957. Despite Poland’s transition to democracy in 1989 and its 2004 entry into the European Union, relations with India have remained strong. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Poland in 2024, further consolidating bilateral ties.

Poland is India’s largest trade and investment partner in Central and Eastern Europe, with bilateral trade rising 192% between 2013 and 2023, growing from $1.95 billion to $5.72 billion. Key Indian exports to Poland include textiles, chemicals, machinery, electrical equipment, footwear, transport equipment, plastics, rubber, food products, and plant-based goods. Imports from Poland to India include machinery, electrical equipment, mineral products, chemicals, plastics, rubber, and optical instruments. Indian investment in Poland has exceeded $3 billion.

Pakistan’s Strategic Moves in Europe

Earlier, Pakistan also established diplomatic relations with Armenia, a strategic partner of India in the South Caucasus. In August, foreign ministers from both countries formally announced the restoration of ties—a move previously opposed by Islamabad. Analysts suggest that these shifts could reshape strategic equations in the region, affecting borders with Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

Pakistan’s growing influence over India’s European allies underscores a new front in regional geopolitics, requiring India to closely monitor and respond to these developments.