A top Bangladeshi military official is on a rare visit to Pakistan and visited the (GHQ) headquarters in Rawalpindi on Tuesday to hold meetings with Pakistani military leadership.

Lieutenant SM Kamr-ul-Hassan, the Chief Staff Officer (PSO) of the Bangladesh Armed Forces Division, who is the second in command, is the first top Bangladeshi general to travel to Islamabad in many years.

The visit by Lieutenant General Hassan, who is accompanied by senior army officers, highlights the shift in bilateral ties between the two countries since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government last August following violent protests.

Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh remained at a standstill during the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina, who repeatedly rejected peace overtures from Pakistan. But since her removal from power, there has been a visible improvement in ties between the two countries.

Both sides have stepped up their contacts and several meetings have taken place at the executive level over the past few months to reset the relationship. The visit by the Bangladesh Army delegation led by a senior general is seen as another sign of warming relations between the two countries.

The Bangladeshi general held separate meetings with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, according to the military’s media wing.

During the meeting, the army chief and Lt. Hassan held extensive discussions on the evolving security dynamics in the region and further explored opportunities to strengthen bilateral military cooperation.”

Both generals, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stressed the importance of a “stronger defense relationship”, stressing that the enduring partnership between the two brotherly nations must remain “resilient to external influences”.

The army chief reiterated the importance of “joint efforts” to promote “peace and stability” in South Asia and the wider region, while ensuring that both nations continued to contribute to regional security through cooperative defense initiatives.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Hassan along with his delegation held a detailed meeting with CJCSC General Mirza at the Joint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ). Their discussions focused on issues of “mutual strategic interest” and explored opportunities to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.

Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening military ties and reaffirmed their commitment to insulate this partnership from any external interference. General Mirza and Lt. Gen. Hassan agreed on the “critical need” for continued cooperation to promote regional “peace, security and stability.”

The CJCSC reiterated that both countries shared a “common vision” for a secure and prosperous future, underpinned by robust defense cooperation. Lt. Hassan praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and expressed deep admiration for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, acknowledging the resilience and dedication shown by the forces.