Islamabad, Dhaka agree to boost ties

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday said there were "vast opportunities for investment" between Pakistan and Bangladesh as the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, business and cultural exchanges during high-level talks in Dhaka.

Naqvi, who is on an official visit to Bangladesh, called on Bangladeshi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, where both sides held detailed discussions on bilateral relations, the regional situation and Pakistan's conciliatory diplomatic role, according to an official statement issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Interior.

The meeting also focused on expanding economic engagement and increasing institutional contacts between the two countries. Both sides agreed to promote greater cooperation in trade, business and culture, while emphasising the need for maximum mutual exchange of delegations to strengthen economic and cultural relations.

According to the statement, discussions were also held regarding the expected visit of Bangladesh's foreign minister to Pakistan.

The Bangladeshi minister appreciated Pakistan's efforts aimed at resolving the Iran-US conflict, the statement added.

Pakistan has played an active diplomatic role in efforts to ease tensions following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and also hosted the first round of face-to-face talks between Washington and Tehran in April.

Bangladesh Foreign Ministry Secretary Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.

The talks came a day after Naqvi signed an anti-narcotics memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and offered Pakistan's cooperation on the Safe City Project.

Relations between Islamabad and Dhaka have shown signs of improvement since the ouster of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, during whose tenure ties between the two countries had remained strained.