Pakistan FM arrives in Bangladesh, marking first top-level visit in 13 years

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday, marking the most senior-level visit between the two nations in over a decade as they seek to reset ties against a backdrop of regional realignments.

Dar, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, was welcomed by senior Bangladeshi and Pakistani officials at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

His two-day visit, at the invitation of the Bangladeshi government, is being described by Pakistan’s Foreign Office as a “significant milestone” in bilateral relations.

Reviving ties after years of estrangement

During his stay, Dar will hold high-level talks with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Commerce Adviser SK Bashir Uddin.

The agenda includes enhancing cooperation across trade, security, and regional policy, as well as discussions on key international issues.

This is the first senior Pakistani visit to Bangladesh since 2012, underscoring a deliberate effort by both sides to strengthen engagement.

Relations have long been overshadowed by the legacy of the 1971 war, which saw East Pakistan secede to form an independent Bangladesh - a conflict that left deep scars and continues to shape public sentiment in Dhaka, where calls for a formal apology from Islamabad persist.

Signs of a thaw

Despite historical grievances, Pakistan and Bangladesh have gradually rebuilt diplomatic channels. Last year, they resumed sea trade, and in February, they expanded government-to-government commerce.

Just this week, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan met Bangladeshi counterparts to establish joint trade and investment commissions, while top military officials from both countries held rare talks in Pakistan on Friday.

Regional implications: India on edge

Dar’s visit comes at a time of heightened regional volatility. Pakistan and India clashed briefly in May, while Bangladesh’s relations with New Delhi have soured since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

Hasina, long considered a key ally of India, fled to New Delhi after a mass uprising toppled her government. She now faces charges of crimes against humanity in Bangladesh but remains in India, which denies supporting her outlawed Awami League party.

“Bangladesh had been one of India’s closest partners in its neighborhood, and now it is flirting with India’s chief adversary,” noted Michael Kugelman, a U.S.-based South Asia analyst.

A new chapter?

Observers say the post-Hasina shift has opened the door for Dhaka to diversify its alliances — and for Islamabad to regain lost ground in South Asia.

“The toppling of Hasina was a strategic setback for India, and the improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan are a consequence of her ouster,” said Thomas Kean of the International Crisis Group.

With additional input from AFP