ISLAMABAD: On Saturday, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh invited Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, to begin a historic official visit to Dhaka from 23 to 24 August.
The foreign minister urges SAARC to become more dynamic and efficient.
- Addressing the gathering at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka is DPM Dar.
- Due to their common history, Pakistan and Bangladesh have a close bond: Dar.
- FM Dar highlights the collaborative efforts underway to address issues.
Ishaq Dar has important meetings in Dhaka as the first Pakistani FM to visit the country in 13 years.
Ishaq Dar, the foreign minister and deputy prime minister, has underlined Pakistan’s shared cultural, historical, and regional interests while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to deepening relations with Bangladesh.
Speaking at a ceremony hosted in his honour by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on Saturday, DPM Dar, who is currently on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, made the comments.
This is the first time in 13 years that a Pakistani foreign minister has visited Bangladesh.
Speaking at a reception, DPM Dar conveyed hope over the future of bilateral relations and thanked the government of Bangladesh for the invitation.
Dar remarked, “Our nations have kinship ties that are rooted in history and culture.”
“Over the past year, we have seen significant progress in our relationship, and we look forward to expanding engagement across various sectors,” he continued.
FM Pointing to several chances for reciprocal advantages, Dar highlighted the necessity of increased collaboration in trade and education.
Speaking about regional issues, he commended Bangladesh’s participation in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and urged its revival to address contemporary issues.
“SAARC needs to be made more effective for the region’s development,” he stated, emphasising the value of collaborating to solve common issues, including security threats and climate change.
The people of both nations want peace, stability, and prosperity in the area, DPM added. He added that Pakistan is keen to communicate with all parties involved in Bangladesh.
Dar met with a Bangladeshi Jamaat-e-Islami team earlier in the day as part of his engagement with various political parties.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets with Bangladeshi political party leaders.
The mission was headed by JI Naib Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, according to a post on X by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Shafqat Ali Khan.
The FO spokeswoman stated that two important topics of conversation were “the recent developments in the region and ways to strengthen Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.”
The DPM praised the JI leaders and activists for their bravery and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Meanwhile, the foreign minister greeted Mr Akhtar Hossain and his National Citizen Party (NCP) team.
During the conversation, the DPM appreciated the NCP leadership’s dedication to social justice and transformation.
He underlined the importance of more youth contact between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The members of the delegation informed DPM about several aspects of the 2024 national political mobilisation.
According to the statement, the two parties also discussed potential ways to expand cultural relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan in the coming days.
A delegation from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), headed by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, later met with DPM Dar.
The FO spokesperson reported that the meeting took place in a friendly environment.
The statement read, “The DPM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing bilateral ties with Bangladesh on the foundation of respect and mutual gain.”
Regional cooperation dominated the talks, with warm praise for Bangladesh’s crucial role in founding SAARC.
According to the FO spokesperson, the leaders also took into account previous high-level contacts between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh invited FM Dar to visit, and during his tour from August 23 to 24, the Pakistani dignitary will meet with Professor Muhammad Yunus, the country’s Chief Adviser, and Touhid Hossain, the adviser for foreign affairs.
Dar aims to restore relations with Dhaka.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, greeted FM Dar upon his arrival at the airport. Prominent Bangladeshi officials, including Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, also attended the conference.
During his visit, the two nations aim to sign several agreements, particularly in the trade sector.
The foreign minister’s visit takes place as relations between Islamabad and Dhaka have been improving ever since PM Hasina was overthrown during a large-scale student-led rebellion and fled to India.
Since then, Pakistan and Bangladesh have expanded their government-to-government trade in February and initiated sea trading last year. Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, has also met with Yunus of Bangladesh on several occasions.
Jam Kamal Khan, the minister of commerce for Pakistan, agreed to form joint commissions to increase investment and trade during discussions Thursday in Dhaka.
Top military leaders from both countries also convened in Pakistan a day earlier.
A significant diplomatic advance made last month when Islamabad and Dhaka agreed in principle to allow diplomatic and official passport holders to enter the country without a visa.
Bangladesh’s Home Minister Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached the agreement during a high-level meeting in Dhaka.
Earlier in April, Bangladesh and Pakistan praised the launch of direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong and emphasised the importance of restoring direct aviation connections.
On April 17, the sixth round of Foreign Secretary Level Consultations (FSLC) in Dhaka led to the development.
Additionally, the advancements in travel and visa facilitation pleased all parties.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led the negotiations after a 15-year break.
According to the statement, they held in a friendly environment and demonstrated a common determination to revive bilateral interaction.