Islamabad, January 15, 2026: The premier think tanks of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalize intellectual and policy cooperation aimed at promoting innovation, informed policymaking, and sustainable growth in both countries.
The MoU was signed virtually by Jafar Bedru Geletu, Executive Director of the Institution of Foreign Affairs (IFA), Ethiopia, and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
The signing ceremony was witnessed in Islamabad by Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba, Ambassador-designate of Ethiopia to Pakistan, while Ambassador Atif Sharif Mian, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, attended the event from the IFA headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will establish a structured framework for cooperation in diplomatic training, professional development, research, and policy analysis. The collaboration will include exchanges of delegations, joint conferences, co-publications, and collaborative research initiatives.
Congratulating both sides on the milestone, Executive Director IFA Jafar Bedru said Ethiopia and Pakistan share a long-standing relationship rooted in mutual respect, South-South solidarity, and a common aspiration for global stability and prosperity.
“By combining IFA’s deep understanding of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea with ISSI’s strong regional research expertise, we are creating a platform capable of delivering practical outcomes—aligning perspectives on maritime security and trade routes, developing joint approaches to stability and counter-terrorism, and producing policy recommendations that reflect contemporary realities,” he said.
ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood described Ethiopia as a gateway to Africa and underscored the importance of building strong academic and research linkages. He said enhanced cooperation through joint research, policy dialogue, and delegation exchanges would benefit both countries and strengthen bilateral engagement.
Ambassador-designate Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba highlighted the positive trajectory of Ethiopia–Pakistan relations and urged both think tanks to actively collaborate and leverage each other’s strengths. He emphasized reinforcing all pillars of the bilateral relationship, particularly political and economic cooperation, and called for close coordination under the newly signed framework.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Atif Sharif Mian, noted the steady growth in bilateral ties, citing recent developments including the opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, the launch of Ethiopian Airlines operations in Karachi, increased exchange of delegations, and the Pakistan Single Country Exhibition held in Addis Ababa in October 2025.
The MoU was described as a significant step toward deepening strategic, academic, and policy engagement between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
