Kallas has refused to establish a high-level European defence group.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has abandoned plans to establish a high-level defence group following pressure from Germany and Italy, Politico reported on September 7. According to the report, member states did not consider it appropriate at this time to establish a group of senior political and military leaders. The group was supposed to be led by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fog Rasmussen and include former politicians and military officials.

However, many diplomats described the plan as an attempt by Kallas to maintain her own influence. A lack of coordination among European capitals and disagreements over the members of the group were cited as the reasons for its cancellation. Earlier, on September 2, the Financial Times reported that Germany had proposed reforms to the European External Action Service.

Concerns Over Reports of Pakistanis Being Expelled from the Middle East

There has been growing concern over reports that Pakistani workers are being expelled from several Middle Eastern countries, prompting the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee to declare the matter highly sensitive. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the committee that the issue of Pakistani workers being expelled from the Middle East was extremely sensitive. Ambassadors from the relevant countries also briefed the committee during the meeting. At the request of Foreign Ministry officials, the meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee was held in-camera to provide a detailed briefing on sensitive matters. According to sources, the meeting was chaired by Hina Rabbani Khar. During the meeting, Khar said that reports had emerged of Pakistani workers being expelled from Bahrain and several other Middle Eastern countries.

The committee chairperson said there were also reports that Pakistanis were being expelled on the basis of sectarian and religious affiliations. She described the matter as extremely concerning and said that if the relevant embassies wanted to brief the committee in-camera on the issue, they should inform the committee. Khar also expressed anger over the incomplete briefing provided to the committee. She said that Parliament and parliamentary committees should be taken seriously.

She also objected to the absence of the Foreign Secretary, saying that if the Foreign Secretary had to visit the Prime Minister’s House, the committee should have been informed in advance. She said that suddenly informing the committee that the Foreign Secretary would not attend was not an appropriate procedure. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry officials told the committee that the issue of Pakistani workers being expelled from the Middle East was highly sensitive. Ambassadors from the relevant countries also briefed the committee. At the request of Foreign Ministry officials, the meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee was held in-camera for a detailed briefing on sensitive matters.