Pakistan, Bangladesh seek to deepen defense ties amid regional security shifts

Pakistan’s army chief said strengthening defense relations with Bangladesh remains a priority, the military said on Thursday, as the head of the Bangladesh Air Force held talks at the army’s headquarters amid evolving regional security dynamics.

Bangladesh's Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, according to a statement from the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The two sides discussed regional security developments, matters of professional interest and ways to deepen bilateral defense and military cooperation, the statement said, with a focus on expanding training exchanges and enhancing professional collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries.

Bangladesh’s air force chief praised the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and their role in promoting regional peace and stability, and expressed interest in broadening military-to-military cooperation, particularly in training and capacity-building initiatives.

Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to building sustained and cooperative defense ties with Bangladesh, underscoring the importance Islamabad places on strong military relationships with friendly nations in South Asia, the statement added.

Pakistan and Bangladesh maintain regular defense-level engagements as part of broader bilateral relations, with senior military exchanges seen by both sides as a means to strengthen mutual understanding and contribute to regional stability.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue close cooperation in support of peace and security in the region, the ISPR said.

Warming of ties

The engagement comes amid a broader warming of relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In August 2025, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar paid a two-day visit to Dhaka, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years. During the visit, the two countries signed six agreements covering trade, academia, media and cultural exchanges.

Pakistan also launched a “Knowledge Corridor” initiative offering 500 scholarships to Bangladeshi students and pledged training for 100 Bangladeshi civil servants.

Bilateral ties began improving following a leadership change in Bangladesh in August 2024, with both sides resuming direct trade, including a government-to-government rice deal, and easing visa rules for officials.