Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, is set to visit Bangladesh in April to enhance bilateral ties previously strained during the Awami League’s governance. Key discussions include resuming bilateral meetings and fostering cultural cooperation, alongside addressing regional challenges like the Rohingya crisis.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Bangladesh in April to strengthen bilateral relations following the recent political changes in Bangladesh. The diplomatic interactions had deteriorated over the 15 years of Awami League governance, with the last visit by a Pakistani foreign minister occurring in 2012. In 2022, the then foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari participated virtually in a D-8 conference, underscoring the minimal direct contact in recent years.
The political shift in August prompted significant communication between leaders, including a telephone conversation between Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alongside meetings in New York and Egypt. Both nations are now prioritizing formal discussions, including resuming foreign secretary-level consultations last conducted in 2010 and the joint economic commission, which last met in 2005.
Recent discussions between Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry additional secretary, and Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin centered on the importance of these upcoming meetings. The dialogue also covered avenues for cultural cooperation like music, cinema, and youth exchanges, aimed at enhancing people-to-people ties.
Siddiqui delivered a letter from Dar to Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, reflecting on the growing exchanges between the two nations. The discussions also addressed cooperation in tourism, handling the Rohingya situation, and regional partnerships within SAARC, OIC, and D-8 groups. Solution pathways were explored to ease Bangladeshi visas for Pakistani citizens and revive direct shipping and flight services between the countries.
The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka highlighted that both nations aspire to establish relations based on mutual respect and shared values, expressing contentment with the current “positive trajectory of ties.” Continued dialogue is anticipated to further enhance mutual cooperation, as discussed in meetings between Siddiqui and Bangladeshi government officials, including the Commerce Secretary and Cultural Affairs Secretary.
Ishaq Dar’s planned visit to Bangladesh in April signals a renewal of diplomatic relations following years of deterioration. With formal meetings resuming and a focus on cultural and economic exchanges, both countries exhibit a commitment to enhancing bilateral ties. Ease of travel and discussions on pressing regional issues demonstrate the mutual intent to cooperate effectively moving forward.
Original Source: www.thedailystar.net
