Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday held what he described as “very productive and comprehensive” talks with Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Than Swe, as Islamabad and Naypyidaw move to reinvigorate bilateral relations after a long pause in high-level engagement.
Than Swe arrived in Islamabad late on January 24 for a four-day official visit, which the Foreign Office said was aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Dar said the Myanmar foreign minister’s visit reflected the importance both sides attach to revitalising their relationship. “Our discussions were very productive and comprehensive,” Dar said, noting that the meeting lasted over an hour and covered the full range of bilateral cooperation.
The deputy prime minister said both sides exchanged views on regional peace and security, agreeing that disputes should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy. He underlined the historic bonds between Pakistan and Myanmar, saying the two countries would build on this foundation to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
According to Dar, the talks included a detailed review of political, trade, commercial and cultural relations, as well as people-to-people exchanges. “Both sides recognized the significant untapped potential for cooperation and emphasized the need for sustained, structured and results-oriented engagement,” he said. Dar added that Pakistan and Myanmar agreed to enhance cooperation in capacity-building, development and humanitarian areas. They also decided to strengthen coordination to facilitate consular assistance for each other’s citizens, particularly victims of cross-border scamming networks.
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The foreign minister said there was a shared emphasis on expanding academic linkages, youth engagement and cultural exchanges. He also highlighted Pakistan’s rich Buddhist heritage, pointing to the potential of religious tourism as a way to deepen cultural ties and connectivity between the two nations.
“Pakistan supports a peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar,” Dar said, expressing confidence that the country could play a positive role in promoting regional reconciliation and shared development.
Following the talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between their foreign ministries. Dar said the agreement would provide an institutional framework for regular dialogue on bilateral, regional and international issues.
In his remarks, Myanmar’s foreign minister described relations between the two countries as historically friendly and said discussions were held “openly and frankly”.
Highlighting Myanmar’s strategic location in Southeast Asia, Than Swe invited Pakistani investors and business leaders to explore opportunities in his country.
“We are at the centre of one of the world’s largest markets,” he said. “That is why we would like Pakistani investors to come, see and study the opportunities for cooperation.”
He called for expanding cooperation across all sectors, including trade, investment, defense-to-defense ties, as well as cultural and scientific exchanges. Than Swe said Myanmar was keen to sign additional MoUs to promote trade and investment and stressed the need to facilitate business-to-business contacts. He also pointed to tourism potential, citing the rich historical and cultural heritage of both countries.
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Recalling historical ties, the Myanmar minister referred to an interaction between Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Myanmar’s independence leader General Aung San.
Acknowledging that Myanmar faced internal challenges, Than Swe said no foreign nationals had been killed in the country over the past five years and encouraged Pakistani businesses to consider investment opportunities.
