Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached Bangladesh on Saturday, marking the first official visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Dhaka in 13 years.
“The visit is a significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations as a Pakistani Foreign Minister is visiting Bangladesh after a gap of around 13 years,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Meetings with Bangladeshi leadership
During his stay in Dhaka from August 23 to 24, Dar will hold meetings with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain.
According to the FO, discussions will cover the entire range of bilateral relations along with regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Trade and diplomacy in focus
Officials said the two countries are expected to sign several agreements, including on trade, during Dar’s visit.
The trip comes amid warming relations between Islamabad and Dhaka, particularly after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following a student-led uprising.
Recent months have seen a flurry of high-level exchanges:
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Sea trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh began last year, followed by expanded government-to-government commerce in February.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held multiple interactions with Bangladesh’s Yunus.
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Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan recently held talks in Dhaka, agreeing to establish joint commissions to boost trade and investment.
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Senior military commanders from both nations also met in Pakistan earlier this week.
Recent breakthroughs
Diplomatic momentum has accelerated, with both countries agreeing last month to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports.
The breakthrough was reached during a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka.
Earlier in April, Pakistan and Bangladesh launched direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong, while also pledging to resume direct air links.
The development followed the 6th round of Foreign Secretary Level Consultations (FSLC), held after a 15-year hiatus, which underscored a shared commitment to revitalising bilateral ties.
