Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, will visit Bangladesh in April 2025 to strengthen bilateral relations post the Awami League government’s ousting. Formal meetings are likely to resume, focusing on cultural cooperation and tourism, with hopes for improved connectivity between the countries.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, is scheduled to visit Bangladesh in April 2025, aiming to enhance bilateral relations following the departure of the Awami League-led government in August 2024. The diplomatic ties between the two nations have been limited during the past fifteen years under the India-aligned leadership of the Awami League, which has not fostered significant engagement.
The last visit by a Pakistani foreign minister took place in 2012, while a virtual attendance occurred in 2022 by the then Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Following the political transition last year, communication between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has intensified, with two in-person meetings already established.
Plans are underway to resume official bilateral dialogues, including foreign secretary-level consultations that were last conducted in 2010, as well as the Joint Economic Commission, which last convened in 2005. Recent discussions between Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, additional secretary at Pakistan’s foreign ministry, and Md Jashim Uddin, Bangladesh’s foreign secretary, reflect a positive willingness to engage.
Discussions highlighted potential avenues for cultural cooperation—covering music, cinema, drama, youth exchanges, and overall people-to-people contacts. Other significant conversations focused on tourism, the plight of displaced Rohingyas, and collaborative efforts in international groups such as SAARC, OIC, and D-8.
A positive development involves the easing of Bangladeshi visa regulations for Pakistani nationals, and both nations are considering the reestablishment of direct shipping routes and flights. Notably, the High Commission of Pakistan in Dhaka confirmed a shared understanding of the importance of strengthening relations characterized by mutual respect and shared values. Furthermore, meetings with various Bangladeshi secretaries also emphasized ongoing cooperation.
The forthcoming visit of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh signifies a renewed diplomatic effort to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in light of recent political changes. With plans to resume formal dialogues and initiatives aiming at cultural cooperation and tourism, both nations demonstrate a commitment to mutual growth and partnership. The easing of visa restrictions and potential direct connectivity further highlight the positive trajectory of their interactions.
Original Source: www.thedailystar.net
