Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, will visit Bangladesh in April to strengthen bilateral ties post-Awami League government. The relationship, which soured over the last fifteen years, is being revitalized through diplomatic discussions, cultural cooperation, and trade delegation exchanges, focusing on mutual respect and shared values in future collaborations.
In April, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, will visit Bangladesh to enhance bilateral relations, following the recent political shift after the Awami League government cessation. The diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh deteriorated during the Awami League’s 15-year tenure, with the last ministerial visit occurring in 2012. Since then, several diplomatic engagements have taken place, including virtual attendance at a ministerial conference by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in 2022.
Post the political transition in August, communication has resumed between the two countries, with notable discussions between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, and meetings in New York and Egypt. Both nations are preparing to reinstate formal bilateral interactions, such as foreign secretary-level consultations last conducted in 2010 and their joint economic commission, which last convened in 2005.
The ongoing dialogue regarding bilateral relations was underscored during a meeting between Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Pakistan’s additional secretary for the Asia Pacific, and Md Jashim Uddin, Bangladesh’s foreign secretary. Critical topics of discussion included cultural exchanges and cooperation in sectors like music, cinema, youth programs, and tourism, necessary for paving the way for Dar’s visit.
To facilitate these efforts, Siddiqui presented Jashim Uddin with a letter from Minister Dar intended for Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. The discussions revealed mutual satisfaction with the recent Pakistani trade delegations’ visits to Bangladesh and emphasized the significance of similar delegations from Bangladesh to Pakistan.
Key issues such as the humanitarian crisis of forcibly displaced Rohingyas and regional cooperation through frameworks like SAARC, OIC, and D-8 were also focal points during the meeting, which included the presence of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof. Furthermore, improvements have been noted regarding Bangladeshi visa facilitation for Pakistani citizens, and plans for resuming direct shipping and flight operations between the two nations are underway.
The impending visit of Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh in April symbolizes a renewed commitment to strengthen Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, following a prolonged period of political estrangement. This initiative is underscored by the resumption of essential diplomatic meetings and increasing cooperation across various sectors. Moving forward, both countries aim to enhance cultural exchanges and address pressing humanitarian issues collaboratively, fostering a mutually beneficial partnership.
Original Source: www.thedailystar.net
