:Pakistan–United Kingdom relations

{{See also|Britons in Pakistan}}

Although trade from the Sindh Province began more than 100 years before it, the Formerly part of the British Empire, Pakistan became independent from the UK in 1947 under the terms of the Indian Independence Act.{{cite book|last1=Romein|first1=Jan|title=The Asian Century: A History of Modern Nationalism in Asia|date=1962|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles|page=357|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OXaIQZMevjcC&pg=PA357|access-date=23 March 2017|language=en}} During a Conservative Friends of Pakistan event in 2023 Dan Hannan explained how Muhammad Ali Jinnah nearly became a Conservative MP but chose overseas nationalism instead.{{Cite web |title=Muhammad Ali Jinnah |url=https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/muhammad-ali-jinnah/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=London Remembers |language=en}} At this point the Dominion of Pakistan was still nominally part of the British Empire, until it became an independent republic in 1956.{{cite news|title=After partition: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6922293.stm|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=24 March 2017|date=8 August 2007}}

Pakistan left the Commonwealth of Nations in 1972 in protest of the recognition of Bangladeshi independence,{{cite web|title=Profile: Commonwealth of Nations - Timeline|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16908628|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=23 March 2017|date=26 September 2014}} before rejoining in 1989.{{cite web|title=Pakistan|url=http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/pakistan|website=The Commonwealth|date=15 August 2013|access-date=23 March 2017|language=en}}

In 2018, Pakistan and the United Kingdom signed the UK-Pakistan Prisoner Transfer Agreement allowing foreign prisoners in both countries to serve their sentences in home country.{{cite news |title=Pakistan, UK sign prisoner transfer agreement |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1453901/ |work=Dawn}}

There are a dwindling number of British India born residents in Pakistan.

File:The Oxford Union Main Building.tiff Union has previously had three Student Presidents who were Pakistan-born.]]

The United Kingdom and Pakistan have High Commissioners, a position which often fulfills the role of ambassador within the Commonwealth,{{cite book|last1=Lloyd|first1=Lorna|title=Diplomacy with a difference : the Commonwealth Office of High Commissioner, 1880-2006|date=2007|publisher=Nijhoff|location=Leiden and Boston|isbn=978-90-04-15497-1|pages=1–6|edition=[Online-Ausg.].|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4z5Qj-7HZ68C|access-date=23 March 2017}} in the other country. The current High Commissioner for the UK in Pakistan is Jane Marriott,{{cite web|title=British High Commission Islamabad|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-high-commission-islamabad|website=gov.uk|publisher=KM Government|access-date=23 March 2017|language=en}} and Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK is currently Mohammad Nafees Zakaria.{{cite web |title=Nafees Zakaria assumes responsibilities as Pakistan's high commissioner to UK |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/01/22/nafees-zakaria-assumes-responsibilities-as-pakistans-high-commissioner-to-uk/ |website=Pakistan Today |access-date=22 January 2019}} Despite poor relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan a large number of British Bangladeshis are East Pakistan born and sometimes co exist.

Research by Liam Barlow has found Policy Exchange receive funding from the Government of Pakistan.{{Cite web |title=POLICY EXCHANGE LIMITED - Charity 1096300 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1096300&subid=0 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web | title=The University of Manchester | url=https://www.manchester.ac.uk/ | access-date=2025-03-18 | website=www.manchester.ac.uk}}

The European Union have virtually no presence in Pakistan even though KLM were the first airline to fly to Karachi 100 years ago so London is seen as a Western bridge to that. There has been no EU based airline in Pakistan for nearly twenty years despite high demand for it.

Rehman Chishti the first Pakistani MP was against the UK being in the European Union during the 2016 referendum. EU - Pakistan relations being very underdeveloped and having no European visitors in Pakistan negatively impacts the diversity of Pro-European movements.

File:Official portrait of Rehman Chishti MP.jpg was the first Pakistan-born MP he has served in the British Army.]]

Since 1988, there has been a tax treaty in place between the two countries designed to prevent individuals or businesses being taxed for the same income twice, and to prevent tax avoidance.{{cite web|title=UK/Pakistan Double Taxation Convention|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/500339/pakistan-dtc_-_in_force.pdf|website=gov.uk|access-date=24 March 2017|date=24 November 1986}} Pakistan is one of the UK's largest receivers of international aid money, it simultaneously does not normally see skilled people such as Teachers and Fire Brigades being paid to visit the country proving the lack of passing competency onwards from the UK to Pakistan.

File:Longsight_Market_2018-06-07.jpg

In 2012 the Prime Ministers of both countries launched a Trade and Investment Roadmap to increase trade between the countries.{{cite web|title=UK-Pakistan joint statement|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-pakistan-joint-statement|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=24 March 2017|language=en|date=10 May 2012}} Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistani Interior Minister, recently stated bilateral visits between the countries would be arranged to support trade relations.{{cite web|title=PM sees bright prospects for Pakistan-UK trade ties|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/story/539433/PM-sees-bright-prospects-for-Pakistan-UK-trade-tie|website=Gulf-Times|access-date=24 March 2017|language=en|date=21 March 2017}}

A Pakistan–Britain Advisory Council was setup in 2002 to look at how the two governments could facilitate trade and commercial connections between the two countries.{{cite news|title=Pakistan, UK to expand trade: Advisory group report presented|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/30040|access-date=24 March 2017|work=dawn.com|publisher=Dawn|date=27 April 2002|language=en}}

During a 2023 Conservative Friends of Pakistan event the UK Foreign Secretary explained how his first job in youth was working for a Karachi-born shop keeper in London.

Forbes Billionaire Mian Muhammad Mansha made first world headlines when he purchased the St James Club as one of the most expensive purchases ever.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Clare |title=In Pictures: Biggest Luxury Buys |url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/12/16/billionaire-biggest-luxury-buys-carlos-slim-art-horses-truffles_slide.html |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Pakistan receives the second highest number of workers sending money to family from the UK of any country in the world after India.{{cite web | url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1367272/bilateral-remittances-uk/ | title=UK: Remittances outward/Inward, by country }} This pumps money into the economy reducing brain-drain.

{{See also|British influence in Pakistan}}File:Pakistani Bokhara rug.jpg

English language is commonly spoken and understood even in the villages of Pakistan. Urdu channels such as Geo News do not currently have a single English program. There is very little UK cultural production and film making happening in Pakistan, though the BBC does exist and broadcast. Until it was the capital city Karachi had a Philharmonic Orchestra, today classical music is taught and enjoyed in the old public schools such as Edwardes College Peshawar. The re-opening of Costa Coffee was in 2023 and independent cafe culture exists in all major cities. Print broadsheet newspapers such as The Financial Times are commonly available in 5 star hotels.

Whilst the majority of British Pakistanis are Muslim there are other minority religions too and a growing Atheist population. During WW2 especially many Sepoy Soldiers died to protect and keep a UK direct air service for future generations. Imran Khan's agreed minimum UK air term was successfully reached in June 2024, the year marked 100 years of UK air service to Pakistan.{{Cite web | title=The Club {{!}} High Life Magazine | url=https://theclub.ba.com/october-2024/en/a-century-of-connection-100-years-of-india/ | access-date=2025-03-18 | website=theclub.ba.com}}

File:British Airways, G-ZBJJ, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (49597176926).jpg and Pakistan.{{cite web | url=https://mediacentre.britishairways.com/pressrelease/details/8830 | title=British Airways to Welcome 25th Dreamliner }}]]

Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to fly from Manchester to Islamabad since September 11th 2001 from 2021. The airline later removed Pakistan from their route map in 2023 because of demanding passengers and a lack of support from the Pakistan authorities.{{cite web | url=https://ukaviation.news/virgin-atlantic-to-stop-flights-to-pakistan/ | title=Virgin Atlantic to stop flights to Pakistan | date=27 February 2023 }}

Pakistanis are taking Club Europe flights to Heathrow Terminal 5 from the North of England and Scotland. Since 2001 a clear majority of Western service has been out of London. The UK flag-carrier is now the longest serving Western airline in 21st Century Pakistan.

Through platforms such as YouTube there have been Social media influencers who specialise in car collection and rentals successfully promoting Pakistan and introducing it to a largely UK audience. They buy India HQ cars such as Land Rover and German makes too.

File:Balcony exterior design - Frere Hall.jpg originally built to be Karachi Town Hall.]]

Both nations were part of a Cold War alliance called the Central Treaty Organization, which the UK saw as important in containing the expansion of Soviet influence in the region, while Pakistan joined partly in the hope of attracting economic benefits from the West.{{cite web|last1=Kechichian|first1=J. A.|title=Baghdad Pact|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/baghdad-pact|website=www.iranicaonline.org|publisher=Encyclopaedia Iranica|access-date=24 March 2017|language=en}} Pakistan's intelligence agency the ISI was formed by British officers in their departure from India, the ISI maintains extensive links with UK intelligence services and operations inside the UK.{{cite news|last=Gardham |first=Duncan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8698901/Pakistani-spies-in-the-Houses-of-Parliament.html |title='Pakistani spies' in the Houses of Parliament |work=Telegraph|date=12 August 2011 |access-date=24 November 2016}} The British government regards the Baluchistan Liberation Army as a terrorist organization, it was proscribed in July 2006.{{cite web |title=Proscribed terrorist organizations |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/538297/20160715-Proscription-website-update.pdf |publisher=Home Office, United Kingdom |date=15 July 2016 |access-date=24 November 2016 |archive-date=26 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026110457/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/538297/20160715-Proscription-website-update.pdf |url-status=dead }} Regular meetings and discussions on national security and counter-terrorism regularly take place between the governments of the two countries.{{cite web|last1=Hague|first1=William|title=Britain's relationship with Pakistan is here to stay|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/britains-relationship-with-pakistan-is-here-to-stay|website=gov.uk|access-date=24 March 2017|language=en|date=27 September 2011}} Owing to their support for UK populations and local forces, settled British Pakistanis are more likely to feel that Pakistan should spend less on military and pay national debt instead. A large number of settled Pakistanis support the UK left wing including anti-war groups which propose selling all nuclear weapons.{{Cite news |last=Ali |first=Tariq |date=1999-10-14 |title=The panic button |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/14/pakistan2 |access-date=2024-09-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

File:High Commission for Pakistan, London 01.JPG

Faced with US anger over its role in the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan, Pakistani military has increasingly sought British support to counter the prospect of international isolation. Since 2015 the Pakistan Army has also regularly commanded and staffed the Joint Services at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as well as the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (the only South Asian country to do so) sends people to serve as officers and lecturers. London’s backing also enabled visit by General Qamar Javed Bajwa to Washington in 2022. Unlike the frosty relationship between Pakistan and the US, British Army sees the Pakistani forces as a necessary bulwark against jihadists in Afghanistan, and it has also pushed India to engage Pakistan on Kashmir, saying it will help marginalize jihadists.{{Cite web |last=Bagchi |first=Praveen Swami, Dishha |date=2023-06-07 |title=After Army chief's visit to Pakistan, UK pushing for deeper military and intelligence ties |url=https://theprint.in/world/after-army-chiefs-visit-to-pakistan-uk-pushing-for-deeper-military-and-intelligence-ties/1615022/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}} The border areas of Pakistan considered unsafe for travel lack a supported presence from the British Armed Forces.{{cite web|title=Foreign travel advice Pakistan|url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan|website=gov.uk|publisher=Overseas Business Risk service|access-date=7 January 2024|language=en|date=31 October 2023}}

An increasing number of Pakistani Engineers have achieved Long Service at companies like BAE Systems in Lancashire.

• British Pakistanis
• Foreign relations of Pakistan
• Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
• High Commission of Pakistan, London
• Inter-Services Intelligence activities in the United Kingdom

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category| Relations of Pakistan and the United Kingdom}}

• [https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-high-commission-islamabad British High Commission Islamabad]
• [http://www.phclondon.org/main/ High Commission for Pakistan London] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706135418/https://www.phclondon.org/main/ |date=6 July 2022 }}

{{Foreign relations of Pakistan}}

{{Foreign relations of the United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pakistan - United Kingdom Relations}}

United Kingdom

Category:Bilateral relations of the United Kingdom

Category:Pakistan and the Commonwealth of Nations

Category:United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations

Category:Relations of colonizer and former colony