Islamabad:
In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties, Pakistan and Bangladesh have in principle agreed to allow visa -free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
The breakthrough was achieved during a high -level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister Lieutenant (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka on Wednesday. Naqvi, who is also the leader of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is in Dhaka to participate in the Asian cricket wire (ACC).
On the sidelines, he held conversations with his Bangladeshic counterpart as part of the ongoing effort from the two sides to reset their ties.
The relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh has seen a positive turn since Sheikh Hasina Wajid government in August 2023.
After the end of the 15-year-old Awami League rule, Pakistan and Bangladesh entered their efforts to restore their bilateral ties.
There have been increased bilateral exchanges between the two sides. The visit of Naqvi was the latest example of these increased interactions.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also had to visit Dhaka at the end of April, but tensions between Pakistan and India led to the delay in the milestone.
The decision from the two sides to provide visa -free access to those who have diplomatic and official passports is seen as a significant step.
Under the Hasina government, the Pakistani diplomat had to be faced with increasing control and monitoring. Pakistani exports to Dhaka also faced non -Tarrif barriers. But these restrictions have been abolished by the preliminary Bangladesh government.
A statement issued here by the Ministry of the Interior said the Bangladeshi Domestic Minister expanded a warm welcome to his Pakistani counterpart, which was presented with an honorary guard on his arrival at the Ministry of Domestic Affairs. Chowdhury, who describes the visit as “of great importance for strengthening bilateral connections,” thanked Minquy -Minqvi for offering educational opportunities for Bangladeshi police officers.
During the negotiations, both sides agreed to improve cooperation in internal security, police education, maturity, anti-human trade and terrorism efforts. Exchange programs between police academies in the two countries were also discussed.
It was decided to establish a joint committee to further increase bilateral cooperation, which will be led by Pakistan’s federal secretary of interior, Khurram Agha. In addition, a high -level Bangladeshi delegation will soon visit the National Police Academy in Islamabad.
The meeting was attended by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister of Interior Minister Khuda Bakhsh, secretary of domestic affairs Nasim al-Ghani, additional secretary security department Shamim Khan, Pakistan’s prosecutor d’Arhe Muhammad Wasif, political adviser Kamran Dehingal and other senior officials.
