Islamabad and Dhaka Aim to Boost Bilateral Ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar engaged in discussions with Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain on Sunday, with the goal of elevating bilateral relations to a new level. The meeting served as an opportunity to comprehensively review various aspects of the relationship between the two nations.

According to the Foreign Office, the discussions encompassed a range of topics, including “high-level exchanges, trade and economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, cooperation on education and capacity building, and humanitarian issues.”

Both countries are also engaged in conversations regarding regional and global issues, notably the revitalization of SAARC, the situation in Palestine, and the Rohingya matter. Both parties expressed a commitment to collaborate in order to further enhance bilateral relations.

The Foreign Office stated that the discussions were held in a positive atmosphere, indicative of the existing goodwill and cordiality between the two nations.

This meeting occurred during FM Dar’s visit to Dhaka on Saturday, which marked the first time a Pakistani foreign minister has visited the nation in 13 years.

His two-day visit, undertaken at the invitation of the Bangladeshi government, will also include a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

This development unfolds amidst increasingly positive relations between Islamabad and Dhaka. Sea trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh commenced last year, followed by the expansion of government-to-government commerce in February. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also held multiple discussions with Bangladesh’s Yunus.

Earlier on Sunday, FM Dar, accompanied by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, hosted a breakfast meeting with Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, along with other prominent Bangladeshi officials.

During this meeting, both sides explored avenues to promote economic and commercial collaboration, emphasizing enhanced trade and improved connectivity.

On Saturday, Pakistan and Bangladesh formalized six memoranda of understanding (MoUs), including an agreement on visa waivers for diplomats and government officials, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson.