Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, will visit Bangladesh in April to improve bilateral relations which soured during the Awami League’s rule. Recent discussions have opened avenues for formal meetings and cultural cooperation, with an emphasis on trade, tourism, and regional collaboration. The visit aims to foster a positive trajectory in diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, is scheduled to visit Bangladesh in April to strengthen the bilateral relationship, which has deteriorated over the past 15 years under the Awami League government. This visit marks a significant diplomatic step, particularly following the ouster of the previous government last year. Historically, the last visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister occurred in 2012 when Hina Rabbani Khar visited for just 12 hours.
Following the political transition in August of the previous year, communication between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicated a thawing of relations. They spoke via phone and met twice in New York and Egypt to discuss strategies for enhancing bilateral cooperation. Both countries are now poised to resume formal meetings, including foreign secretary-level consultations, the last of which occurred in 2010, and the Joint Economic Commission, which last convened in 2005.
During a recent meeting, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Pakistan’s additional secretary for Asia Pacific, engaged with Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Md Jashim Uddin, to discuss the upcoming visit’s significance. “Both sides discussed the importance of holding the meetings,” a foreign ministry statement noted. They deliberated on cultural cooperation opportunities, encompassing fields such as music, cinema, drama, and youth exchanges, fostering people-to-people connections.
In addition, Siddiqui presented to Jashim Uddin a letter from Dar addressed to Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. Both officials expressed satisfaction regarding recent trade delegation visits from Pakistan to Bangladesh and highlighted the need for reciprocal visits from product-specific delegations. They also addressed cooperation in tourism, cultural exchanges, the Rohingya issue, and international collaboration.
Regional cooperation through organizations such as SAARC, OIC, and D-8 was emphasized, with the meeting attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof. Additionally, the easing of visa processes for Pakistani nationals seeking to travel to Bangladesh was announced, alongside plans to resume direct shipping and flight services between the two nations. In a separate statement, the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka reaffirmed that both countries prioritize relationships built on “mutual respect and shared values,” expressing satisfaction with the improving trajectory of their diplomatic ties.
The forthcoming visit of Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh signifies a crucial step in revitalizing the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh after years of diplomatic stagnation. With plans to resume high-level meetings and cultural cooperation, both nations are committed to enhancing mutual ties while addressing various regional and international challenges collaboratively.
Original Source: www.thedailystar.net
