Dar pushes for stronger bilateral, cultural ties with Bangladeshi political leadership

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday held separate meetings with Bangladeshi political delegations to discuss reforms, youth engagement, stronger bilateral relations and regional developments, the foreign ministry said.

This is the first visit by any Pakistani foreign minister since 2012 and comes amid growing ties between the two countries after nearly two decades of strained relations.

Hina Rabbani Khar was the last foreign minister to travel to Dhaka, where she extended an invitation to then prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid for the D-8 summit. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh remained tense during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure.

Upon reaching Dhaka, Dar was received at the airport by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, along with Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, and officials from the Pakistan High Commission were also present.

Dar first met a delegation of the National Citizen Party (NCP), led by Akhtar Hossain. He praised the NCP leadership’s “vision for reform and social justice” and underlined the importance of greater interaction between the youth of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The NCP members, for their part, briefed Dar on “different facets of countrywide political mobilisation in 2024,” the ministry added. Both sides also discussed ways to promote cultural exchanges in the coming months.

Later, Dar met with a delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Naib Ameer. Talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and recent regional developments.

Dar “lauded the courage and steadfastness of the Jamaat leaders and activists in the face of hardships and difficulties,” according to the ministry statement.

DPM also met a delegation of Bangladesh’s main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The meeting, described as cordial by officials, focused on strengthening bilateral relations “on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.”

Regional cooperation also featured in the talks, with Dar acknowledging Bangladesh’s foundational role in the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The two sides also recalled past high-level interactions between Pakistan and Bangladesh, underscoring the importance of continued political dialogue.

The trip, described as long overdue, had earlier been postponed twice — once in May following heightened Pakistan-India tensions after the Pahalgam attack.

"At the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is on an official visit to Bangladesh from 23–24 August 2025," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

During his stay in Dhaka, Dar is scheduled to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Adviser for Foreign Affairs Touhid Hossain. "The whole range of bilateral relations and several regional and international issues will be discussed during these meetings," the statement added.

Read: FM to embark on strategic Dhaka visit

The visit comes at a time when a senior Bangladeshi military delegation is in Pakistan, signaling growing engagement between the two countries.

According to an ISPR release, Lt Gen Md Faizur Rahman, Quartermaster General of the Bangladesh Army, called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, at Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The two sides discussed the regional security environment and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in defence and security. General Mirza highlighted the upward trajectory of bilateral ties and pointed to new avenues for collaboration.

The visiting general praised the professionalism of Pakistan's armed forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. 

Bilateral trade and defence ties

In February, bilateral trade between the two countries registered an increase with the start of first ever direct trade link via sea. The two countries have already agreed to start direct flights, giving further impetus to the relationship.

Pakistan and Bangladesh have not only intensified political engagements but also defence ties. In January, a top Bangladeshi general came to Pakistan on rare visit. Lt-Gen S M Kamr-ul-Hassan, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, who is the second in command, was the first top Bangladeshi general to have travelled to Islamabad in many years.

The visit of the Bangladeshi general, who was accompanied by senior army officers, highlights the shift in bilateral ties between the two countries since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina government.

As Pakistan and Bangladesh ties grow gradually, India is increasingly worried. Indian officials and experts are concerned that growing Pakistan-Bangladesh ties would undermine security of its restive north-eastern states.

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have dismissed those fears and made it clear that they are pursuing bilateral ties for their own mutual benefits.

The ouster of pro-India Sheikh Hasina was a massive blow for India, which backed the Awami League Leader to advance its strategic interests. Hasina fled to India and since then has been living there on exile.

The Bangladesh interim government has repeatedly asked for her extradition to face trial for various crimes allegedly she committed while in power. India has yet to respond to the Bangladesh request.