Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has embarked on an official trip to Dhaka, marking a major breakthrough in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. His departure on Saturday makes him the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit Bangladesh in 13 years.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit is a milestone. Officials said a gap of more than a decade has finally been bridged, opening a fresh chapter in diplomacy between the two nations.
During his two-day stay in Dhaka, from August 23 to 24, Ishaq Dar will hold high-level talks. He is scheduled to meet Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain. Discussions will focus on the full spectrum of bilateral ties, as well as pressing regional and global matters.
Officials hinted that new agreements are likely to be signed. Trade deals and other arrangements are expected to take center stage, reflecting the growing economic cooperation in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.
The timing of this visit comes against the backdrop of warming ties. Relations have improved significantly after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India following a student-led uprising. Since then, there has been a surge in contacts at political, diplomatic, and military levels.
Key developments highlight the shift. Sea trade between the two nations was launched last year, followed by stronger government-to-government commerce in February. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already held several interactions with Professor Yunus. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan also visited Dhaka recently, where both sides agreed to set up joint commissions to boost investment. Earlier this week, senior military commanders from Pakistan and Bangladesh also met in Islamabad.
Momentum in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations has continued through other breakthroughs. Just last month, the two countries agreed on visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports. That decision came during talks between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
In April, direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong was launched, alongside pledges to restore direct air connectivity. These steps followed the 6th round of Foreign Secretary Level Consultations, held after 15 years, where both sides expressed a strong resolve to revive and expand their partnership.
Through this visit, Ishaq Dar is expected to further deepen Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. Analysts believe his meetings will strengthen diplomatic engagement, push trade forward, and add new energy to a partnership that is entering a renewed phase of cooperation.
