Islamabad:
Pakistan and Bangladesh have promised to strengthen bilateral relations after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Bangladesh’s adviser to foreign affairs, Touhid Hussain, on the sidelines of the International Conference on the two-state solution in the United Nations in New York on Monday.
This marks the fourth high-level interaction between the two countries since October 2024, indicating a renewed momentum in Pakistan-Bangladesh bands after many years of load.
According to a statement from the Foreign Office, the two leaders conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and confirmed their common obligation to improve political, economic and cultural cooperation.
They also agreed to promote connectivity and people-to-people exchanges with plans to facilitate bilateral visits at a high level in the near future.
Both sides expressed deep concern about the serious humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing Israeli military aggression against Palestinians. They emphasized their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and emphasized the need for meaningful results from the ongoing conference on the two-state solution.
Bills between Islamabad and Dhaka have witnessed a remarkable thaw since the radiance of Sheikh Hasina’s government last August, which had long maintained a tough attitude towards Pakistan of historic complaints. The change in the government of Dhaka has enabled more pragmatic and forward -looking commitment between the two South Asian Muslim majority nations.
Last week, Interior Minister Mohsin visited Naqvi Dhaka, where he held conversations with his Bangladeshi colleague, LT Gen (R) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. The two parties reached a landmark agreement to provide visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports, which is largely seen as symbolic of growing mutual trust and a step towards facilitating travel restrictions on future trade and official stock exchanges.
With regional dynamics that change, especially in the light of China’s increasing influence and the decline of traditional regional groups such as SAARC, Pakistan and Bangladesh, seems to calibrate their foreign policy strategies.
Both countries are now investigating question -based collaboration focusing on development, trade and strategic autonomy and moving beyond historical luggage.
The recent engagements also reflect Pakistan’s wider diplomatic push to connect again with South Asian neighbors, strengthen the solidarity of the Muslim world and project a more constructive role in regional diplomacy.
Since the Sheikh Hasina government, Bangladesh’s temporary administration has removed restrictions on Pakistani diplomats and imports, giving a fresh driver to bilateral tapes.
