Dar and Yunus discuss revival of Pak-Bangladesh relations

Pakistan and Bangladesh have expressed their resolved to revive the old connections between the two countries.

The resolve was expressed during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus during his landmark visit to Dhaka on Sunday.

According to a post on X by the Foreign Office, Ishaq Dar called on Yunus and apprised him of the developments during his trip. The pair discussed “recent developments in the region and the prospects of regional cooperation.”

The Foreign Office described Dar’s two-day visit - the first by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in 13 years - as a “significant milestone” in bilateral relations.

The discussion focused on restoring long-standing connections between Pakistan and Bangladesh, strengthening youth engagement, increasing regional connectivity, and expanding trade and economic cooperation.

“The discussions focused on reviving longstanding connections, promoting youth engagement, improving connectivity, and enhancing trade and economic cooperation,” the Foreign Office added.

Recent regional developments and the potential for broader regional collaboration also came under discussion. Dar conveyed the prime minister’s greetings to the chief adviser.

He briefed him on his engagements in Dhaka and shared the main outcomes of his visit. He expressed appreciation for the arrangements and hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their stay.

Earlier, Pakistan and Bangladesh signed six agreements in various areas of cooperation on Sunday as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made a historic visit to Dhaka to build on the reset in ties.

Bangladesh and Pakistan on Sunday agreed to bolster long-strained relations, including increasing trade.

“The scope and possibility of doing good for the two peoples of our two countries is tremendous,” said Islamabad’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the most senior Pakistani official to have visited Dhaka since 2012. Agreements were signed to deepen trade and economic ties, as well as boost cultural exchanges. But Dhaka said a key issue, of wanting an apology from Islamabad for atrocities during the war when East Pakistan broke away to form Bangladesh, remained “unresolved.”

Dhaka’s foreign affairs adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain said that the issue of an apology was not solved, but agreed to strengthen ties between the nations.

“We have reached a consensus that the pending issues must be resolved so they don’t stand as obstacles in our relationship,” Hossain told reporters.

Ever since a popular uprising in Bangladesh saw Sheikh Hasina’s government toppled in August of last year, there has been a thaw in ties between Islamabad and Dhaka, with trade and bilateral relations seeing a marked improvement.

Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to further strengthen their bilateral relations across various sectors.

This understanding was reached during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain in Dhaka today (Sunday).

The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties, including high-level exchanges, trade and economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts, and humanitarian issues. Additionally, they discussed regional and international matters, such as revitalizing SAARC, and addressing the Palestine and Rohingya crises. The Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh also hosted a luncheon in honour of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.

An agreement to abolish visas for diplomats and government officials, an MoU between the Foreign Service Academies, and an MoU between the Associated Press Pakistan and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha are also included in these MoUs.

In addition, an MoU on cultural exchanges, a trade joint working group, and an Institute of Strategic Studies were also signed.

A high-level talks were held between the delegations of Pakistan and Bangladesh in Dhaka, in which detailed discussions were held on regional issues, bilateral relations, and economic and trade cooperation, while the revival of SAARC and the promotion of cooperation in the region were also considered.

Agencies