Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Visit Bangladesh in April for Bilateral Discussions

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, will visit Bangladesh in April to improve bilateral relations strained by political changes. The two countries aim to resume formal meetings, explore cultural cooperation, and ease travel restrictions, reflecting a commitment to fostering mutual respect and shared values.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, is scheduled to visit Bangladesh in April as a part of initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations following the removal of the Awami League government last year. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh deteriorated during the 15 years of Awami League leadership, with the last visit by a Pakistani foreign minister occurring in 2012, when Hina Rabbani Khar visited for a brief period.

The political shift in August of last year has facilitated dialogues between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who spoke via phone and met twice in New York and Egypt. This marks a renewed effort to improve relations between the two nations, with plans to resume formal bilateral meetings, including foreign secretary-level consultations last held in 2010 and a joint economic commission concluded in 2005.

Recent discussions between Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, additional secretary (Asia Pacific) of Pakistan’s foreign ministry, and Md Jashim Uddin, Bangladesh’s foreign secretary, highlighted the necessity of these upcoming meetings. They debated various facets of bilateral relations, including opportunities for cultural cooperation, which encompass music, cinema, drama, youth exchanges, and people-to-people interactions.

During their discussions, Siddiqui presented a letter from Foreign Minister Dar to Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. Both officials recognized the positive impact of recent trade delegations from Pakistan to Bangladesh and stressed the significance of product-specific trade visits from Bangladesh to Pakistan. They also covered collaboration in tourism, cultural exchanges, the situation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas, and engagements in international forums.

The importance of enhanced regional collaboration through organizations such as SAARC, the OIC, and D-8 was emphasized. Additionally, measures facilitating the issuance of Bangladeshi visas to Pakistani citizens have been implemented, alongside plans to reinstate direct shipping routes and flights between the two countries. A statement from the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka underscored that both nations are committed to a relationship founded on “mutual respect and shared values” and acknowledged the current “positive trajectory of ties.” Furthermore, Siddiqui’s meetings included discussions with the Commerce Secretary, Cultural Affairs Secretary, and Home Secretary of Bangladesh.

In summary, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s forthcoming visit to Bangladesh is a critical opportunity to mend and enhance bilateral relations that have been strained in recent years. The recent discussions between senior officials reflect a concerted effort to resume formal diplomatic meetings and explore new avenues for cooperation in various sectors. The easing of visa policies and the plan for direct transportation links mark significant steps toward improved interactions, underscoring a mutual commitment to strengthening ties based on respect and shared interests.

Original Source: www.thedailystar.net