Pak foreign minister arrives in Bangladesh on ‘historic visit’

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday as the nations seek to rebuild ties with regional power balances shifting.

Dar is the most senior Pakistani official to visit Dhaka since 2012, with Islamabad calling it a “significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.”

The two Muslim-majority nations are expected to sign several agreements including on trade on Sunday.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Dar would meet Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus.

Analysts say neighbouring India, which fought a four-day conflict with Pakistan in May, will be watching closely.

Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi turned icy in August 2024 after a mass uprising in Bangladesh ended the rule of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, prompting her to flee to India.

Pakistan and Bangladesh began sea trade last year, expanding government-to-government commerce in February.

Islamabad’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan held talks on Thursday in Dhaka, where he agreed to set up joint commissions to boost trade and investment.

On Friday, top military commanders from both nations met in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Dar held separate meetings with the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and a delegation of the National Citizen Party (NCP) of Bangladesh, led by Akhtar Hossain, at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on Saturday.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson, during the meeting, Dar emphasised the need for greater interaction between the youth of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He was speaking to a delegation of the National Citizen Party of Bangladesh, led by Akhtar Hossain, at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. During the discussion, Dar appreciated the NCP leadership’s vision for reform and social justice.

The delegation members apprised Dar of various aspects of the countrywide political mobilisation that took place last year. The two sides also discussed possibilities for promoting cultural exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the coming days. Meanwhile, Dar met a delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami led by Deputy Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Muhammad Tahir.

Dar appreciated the steadfastness and courage of the party leaders and workers despite the difficulties and difficult circumstances.

Earleir, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dar was received by Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haider, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Khan and officials of Pakistan High Commission, Foreign Office said in a press release.

The visit is a significant milestone in bilateral relations as a Pakistani foreign minister is visiting Bangladesh after a gap of around 13 years, Foreign Office said. During the visit, the foreign minister will hold important meetings with the Bangladeshi leadership.

“Discussions will encompass the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation including regional and international issues of mutual interest,” it said.

Islamabad is giving importance to reviving relations as well as increasing closeness at the political level during this bilateral visit.

Although Dar was scheduled to visit Dhaka on April 27, his visit was postponed in the context of border tensions due to the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir.

Bangladesh foreign ministry officials said that the main meeting of the Pakistani foreign minister on the second day of the visit, on Sunday, will be with Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Bangladesh Interim Government of Bangladesh Md. Towhid Hossain. On that day, the two ministers will initially meet in private and later at the delegation level.

After the meeting, six agreements and MOUs are expected to be signed between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

According to relevant sources, various bilateral issues including trade, investment, connectivity, facilitating the movement of people of Bangladesh and Pakistan at various levels will be discussed in the meeting between Towhid and Dar.

Agencies