Dhaka (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held talks in Dhaka on Sunday with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, marking the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to the country in 13 years.
According to the Foreign Office, discussions covered a wide range of subjects including the revival of historic links between the two nations, promotion of youth exchanges, boosting regional connectivity, and expanding trade and economic ties. The two leaders also touched upon recent regional developments and the prospects for closer cooperation in South Asia.
Dar conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s greetings to Professor Yunus and expressed gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality extended by the Bangladeshi authorities.
As part of his visit, Dar also called on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at her residence. Offering prayers for her health amid her prolonged illness, Dar praised her contributions as Bangladesh’s former premier and relayed greetings from PM Shehbaz.
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In another engagement, Dar met Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of relations, including high-level contacts, economic and trade cooperation, cultural and academic exchanges, training opportunities, and humanitarian concerns. They also discussed regional and global matters such as the revitalization of SAARC, the situation in Palestine, and the Rohingya crisis.
“The talks were held in a constructive spirit, reflecting the goodwill and cordiality between Pakistan and Bangladesh,” the FO statement noted.
The visit takes place at a time of improving ties between Islamabad and Dhaka following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year, who left for India after a mass student uprising. Since then, the two countries have initiated sea trade and expanded government-to-government commerce earlier this year. PM Shehbaz Sharif has also interacted with Professor Yunus on multiple occasions.
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On Sunday morning, Dar, accompanied by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, joined a breakfast meeting with Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin and senior officials. The talks centered on ways to enhance bilateral trade and connectivity.
Later in the day, Dar and Hossain oversaw the signing of six agreements between Pakistan and Bangladesh. These included:
visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports, establishment of a Joint Working Group on Trade, cooperation between the Foreign Service Academies of both countries, a memorandum of understanding between Associated Press of Pakistan and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, collaboration between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, and a Cultural Exchange Program.
According to the FO, these agreements will institutionalize cooperation in areas ranging from commerce and diplomacy to education, media, and culture.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
