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| "The visit is a significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations as a Pakistani Foreign Minister is visiting Bangladesh after a gap of around 13 years," |
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Renaissance: Ishaq Dar’s Groundbreaking Visit to Bangladesh
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached Bangladesh on Saturday, beginning the first official visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Dhaka in 13 years.
"The visit is a significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations as a Pakistani Foreign Minister is visiting Bangladesh after a gap of around 13 years," the Foreign Office said in a statement.
After a 13-year hiatus, the skies between Islamabad and Dhaka have cleared—marked by Foreign Minister (and Deputy Prime Minister) Ishaq Dar landing in Dhaka for a landmark visit. His arrival on August 23 signaled not only the resumption of high-level diplomacy but also the possibility of a deeper, warmer bond between the two nations. The Foreign Office called it a “significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations,” and it truly was.
The visit comes on the heels of earlier thawing efforts: in April, after 15 years, foreign secretaries from both countries held consultations in Dhaka, setting the tone for what would become a rejuvenated bilateral relationship. Since then, trade in goods like rice commenced, visa restrictions eased, direct flights and sea links were restored, and scholarships were extended to students—standing testimony to the shifting tides in South Asia.
Diplomacy in Action: Meetings, Agreements, and Shared Futures
In Dhaka, Ishaq Dar began with a respectful welcome—greeted by Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary and Pakistan’s High Commissioner, he quickly moved into productive discussions. At the airport and beyond, a message was clear: Pakistan was ready to write a new chapter. His meetings with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain were set to explore not just trade, but also culture, media, training, and institutional cooperation.
Reports suggest at least six cooperation instruments were being finalized—covering visa-free travel for diplomats, establishing a joint working group on trade, collaboration between foreign service academies, cultural exchanges, and strengthened think-tank ties. These are more than bureaucratic gestures—they represent acknowledgment and eagerness to rebuild trust and solidarity.
But diplomacy wasn't limited to government halls. Ishaq Dar was slated to meet political figures like BNP's Khaleda Zia and officials from Jamaat-e-Islami—showing Islamabad’s intent to engage with Bangladesh’s diverse political landscape. This signals more than normalization—it’s a broad embrace of mutual understanding.
Trade, Transit, and Trust: Strengthening Bridges Over Trade Routes
Trade talks loomed large. Direct shipping from Karachi to Chittagong has become a reality; Pakistan’s Fly Jinnah and Air Sial were preparing to break airspace boundaries with flights to Dhaka. The “long-overdue” visit carries economic weight, as Pakistan and Bangladesh explore Joint Economic Commission meetings, push for visa facilitation, and aim to expand business in agriculture, technology, and culture.
Dar's visit follows Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s earlier visit, where the groundwork was laid for mutual investment and trade commissions. And the military realm hasn’t been untouched either: during the visit, discussions with Bangladeshi defense officials continued defense cooperation momentum that began when their generals met in Islamabad earlier.
From Stagnation to Momentum: The Political Undercurrent
What makes Dar’s visit especially noteworthy is the background: Bangladesh’s political shift following the mass uprising that removed long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. With a new interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, ties were no longer tethered to past grievances. Instead, shared interests and pragmatic diplomacy took center stage.
Yet, unresolved historical issues remain: the legacy of the 1971 war, repatriation of stranded individuals, and claims over undivided assets. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has stressed that true normalization would require addressing these issues—openly and respectfully. As Ishaq Dar continues his trip, such topics weigh on the table like silent reminders of history's unfinished chapters.
A Turning Point in South Asia: What This Visit Means
Ishaq Dar’s visit is more than a diplomatic calendar event—it’s a symbol of renewed regional balance. As new ties and trade lines take shape, Pakistan and Bangladesh are stepping into a future where trust, commerce, cultural exchange, and mutual respect define relations more than history's disputes. For Pakistan, the visit is a reaffirmation of its willingness to embrace neighbors without overlook. For Bangladesh, it's a chance to move forward diplomatically, economically, and socially.
If the visit yields signed MoUs and tangible trade outcomes, it could become a blueprint for regional cooperation—one grounded in sincerity and mutual benefit.