For the past few decades, EU policy towards South Asia has emerged, reshaping its strategic compass. Pakistan, as a major country in the region, always strives for mutual collaboration to enhance trade and ensure its goods reach the international market. In this context, the mutual relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands foresee an important partnership to stabilize the EU-South Asia policy. The EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy is an acknowledgment of Asia’s role in the comprehensive stability and security of the world. However, the complex dynamics of South Asia illustrate the fragile policies of the countries to foster strong collaboration. Pakistan, with its geo-strategic location, evolving economy, and exposure to security and climate, presents a difficult challenge for EU engagement.
The Netherlands is a primary, trade-oriented, and approachable EU state and has a strong Indo-Pacific policy. Clingendael (an independent think tank working in the Netherlands) reports depict that the Netherlands promotes the result-driven partnership that integrates trade and people-to-people connectivity. This strategic posture enables the Netherlands to act as a catalyst and translate its bilateral relations with Pakistan into a stabilizing instrument for effective EU policy. Recent developments between Pakistan and the Netherlands have been marked by growing potential and mutual respect for each other.
In 2025, the Dutch ambassador Robert–Jan Siegert showed the political will to enhance cooperation and emphasized the Netherlands’ longstanding support across development, trade, and private sector-led initiatives. Moreover, according to trade data, According to Pakistan Business Council, Pakistan exported USD 1.60 billion worth of goods to the Netherlands, making the Netherlands one of the top EU destinations for Pakistan. Pakistan’s inclusion in the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which is conditioned on compliance environmental protection, and good governance provides a structural framework to create a bilateral engagement. Dutch expertise in countering climate challenges, fostering agricultural reforms, and technological advancement directly aligns with Pakistan’s development initiatives, offering a model in which both countries utilize their ‘’soft powers’’ and fulfill the gap of governance and development incentives.
Pakistan and the Netherlands’ partnership offers multiple venues for stabilizing the EU South Asia policy. GSP+ conditionality enables the Netherlands to emphasize governance reforms, environmental protections that make Pakistan more aligned with EU policies. As a credible EU member, the Netherlands can offer technical support and a strategic framework in complex institutional issues that create hurdles for the EU to approach Pakistan. Simultaneously, Dutch development initiatives in the field of climate change and economic growth can contribute to Pakistan’s internal stability. Together, these interlinked mechanisms provide a longstanding commitment for the EU to stabilize its policy in South Asia.
Despite the efforts, there are some major constraints that pose serious threats to further deepen this strategic alliance. Pakistan’s governance deficit and political instability remain a liability; engagement without accountability raises serious questions on the EU’s structural framework. For instance, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, the latest 27 consitutional amendement undermine judicial independence and run counter to the separation of powers that underpin the rule of law and safeguard the protection of human rights in Pakistan. Moreover, India-Pakistan clashes and China’s influence on Pakistan also complicate strategic calculations, demanding careful consideration to avoid any future adversary.
Domestic instability, from political turbulence to economic disparity in Pakistan, also threatens the sustainability of investments and reform initiatives. These factors demonstrate that bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the Netherlands, along with a cohesive EU strategy to stabilize its long-standing policies in South Asia. To gain the maximum potential of Pakistan-Netherlands relations, the EU should pay its focus on the areas where Dutch expertise is commendable— climate, agriculture, and digital transformation. GSP+ policy must be systemically applied, tied with economic incentives, and linked to the measurable progress in human rights and labor protection. Promoting public-private partnerships with the help of Dutch finance institutions can strengthen transparency and accountability. Enhancing cooperation through people-to-people connectivity, including vocational training and academic exchanges, will further deepen institutional capacity. These bilateral engagements must be embedded in the EU’s strategic framework in order to achieve its objectives in South Asia.
The author is a multimedia journalist and digital strategist associated with Diplomatic Affairs, covering geopolitics, conflict, and human rights. Her work blends investigative reporting with data-driven storytelling, uncovering voices from regions often ignored by mainstream media. She can be reached at aleezashaikh92@gmail.com
Disclaimer: “The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of any organization.
