Trade, connectivity, investment, cultural exchange, people-to-people contact, share of properties, and military cooperation are likely to dominate Dhaka–Islamabad talks as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Dhaka on 23 August to discuss ways to strengthen coordination with Bangladesh.
Ishaq Dar will have a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, on 24 August in addition to his other engagements.
His previously scheduled visit to Bangladesh in April was postponed amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“Owing to unforeseen circumstances, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan was unable to undertake the visit to Bangladesh on 27-28 April 2025,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan at that time.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary (FS) level talks held in Dhaka in 2007 set a target to raise the bilateral talks to the tune of 1 billion US dollars.
The then Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Touhid Hossain, (now Foreign Adviser) and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan in joint press conference at the state Padma announced the target set by the two countries. During the last 18 years, sources in Islamabad and Dhaka said both countries crossed the target in only year.
The present trade volume between two countries is hovering around 800-900 US dollars, according to data of the National Board of Revenue NBR, Bangladesh Bank (BB)and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). The two-way trade volume roughly stood
$300 million a year. The Joint Economic Commission (JEC) of the two countries held 2008 in Islamabad decided to increase the volume of trade and commerce, according to a decision taken at the fourth foreign secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dhaka. Pakistan is favoured by the balance of payments.
The trade between two countries is hovering around 800-900 million US dollars, less the potentials both countries hold, said a Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) director.
In fiscal 2005-06, Bangladesh imported Pakistani goods worth over $150 million, and Pakistan imported Bangladeshi commodities worth $54 million in the same period.
In 2003-04, Bangladesh export to Pakistan was $45 million against imports worth of $61 million. During July-December period of fiscal 2004-05, Bangladesh’s exports stood at only $13 million against its imports from Pakistan at $65 million.
The Joint Economic Commission (JEC) of the two countries held 2008 in Islamabad decided to increase the volume of trade and commerce, according to a decision taken at the fourth foreign secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dhaka. Pakistan is favoured by the balance of payments. In fiscal 2005-06, Bangladesh imported Pakistani goods worth over $150 million, and Pakistan imported commodities from Bangladesh worth only $54 million in the same period.
Meanwhile, in the past India often put embargoes on export of essential commodities of specified quantity of nine products including potatoes, onions, eggs, rice, wheat flour and sugar to neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, causing price hike of essentials.
Bangladesh should mull over signing a contact at the state level with Pakistan regarding import of rice, wheat flour and sugar at regular interval to maintain stability in the market, said a leading businessman of the country..
During the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar, Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Adviser Md Touhid Hossain is expected to raise historical unsettled issues with Pakistan, including a formal public apology for the atrocities committed against Bangladesh during 1971 War of Liberation by the Pakistan forces and pending financial claims from Pakistan.
Another official said that trade and investment issues with focus on simplifying processes, enhancing cultural exchange, visa process, stranded Pakistani issues and other unresolved ones will come up in ‘different shapes’ during the discussion.
“Discussions could center on how they can strengthen cooperation within the regional framework, SAARC. Bangladesh and Pakistan could increase bilateral scholarships and academic exchanges between universities. This would foster intellectual exchange and a better understanding of each country’s socio-political systems. They could also collaborate on research projects related to science, technology, and social studies, strengthening the academic ties,” said a Mofa official.
Meanwhile, recently Bangladesh and Pakistan expressed deep concern over the ongoing Israeli aggression and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Palestine, reiterating their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their just cause.
The message was conveyed during a recent meeting between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, held on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution at the United Nations. Both expressed the hope for meaningful outcomes from the conference. This was their fourth meeting since October 2024.
They also reviewed bilateral ties and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political, economic and cultural cooperation, while exploring ways to enhance connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka said.
During a meeting with PM Shehbaz on the sidelines of the D-8 summit in Cairo last December, Yunus reportedly told him, “The issues have kept coming again and again. Let’s settle those issues for us to move forward,” according to AFP, quoting a statement from his office.
Meanwhile, in January, the armed forces of both nations stressed the importance of an “enduring partnership” resilient against external influences.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed in principle to grant visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports, following talks between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
Pakistan has announced a new visa policy allowing citizens from 126 countries, including Bangladesh, to travel to Pakistan without a visa fee, to enhance diplomatic and people-to-people ties.
Bangladesh, being one of the 126 nations on the list, stands to benefit from this initiative.
A Pakistan diplomat emphasised that this policy is part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation with Bangladesh. He also expressed optimism that the travel arrangement without any visa fee would lead to increased interactions in various sectors, including trade, education, and cultural exchanges.
In addition to the visa policy, the meeting also covered discussions on resuming direct flights between the two countries, which had been suspended since 2018. The envoy stressed the importance of reinstating these flights to further facilitate travel and business engagements between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The new visa policy is expected to be a major step forward in improving bilateral relations, which have seen a period of relative stagnation over the past 15 years. Both sides agreed on the need to overcome past challenges and work towards a more collaborative future.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Hussain Khan said that that Dhaka is working to deepen social, economic and cultural connectivity to a new height
Meanwhile, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Hussain Khan announced that direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh are expected to begin within this year, adding that this initiative would enhance connectivity and strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
During a meeting with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi and his team, the high commissioner also revealed plans to launch cargo flights connecting Dhaka, Karachi, and Lahore. He stated that these services would facilitate trade and business exchanges, providing a significant boost to bilateral commerce.
On the topic of direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan, a Foreign Ministry official noted that direct cargo shipping has already begun between the two nations, and visa restrictions have been eased.
Sources in Dhaka, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad said some 25 lakh Bangalee- Bangladeshis live in Karachi and most of them hold Pakistani passports.
Sources in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi said even 5.00 per cent of 25 lakh Pakistani Bangalees intend to visit Bangladesh every year, the social connection between two counties will be gradually improve that suffered during the last 15 years.
The Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad and the mission in Karachi squeezed the issuance of the visas to Pakistani civilians and business leaders on security and strategic grounds, according to Mofa officials and Bangladesh diplomats who worked during 2009-2024 period.
“Until Bangladesh issues visa to Pakistani businessmen and civilian at regular speed, the trade potentials will remain low,” said a Mofa officials and a FBCCI leader
During 15-year tenure of the Bangladesh Awami League government ranging between 2009-2024, the relations between Dhaka-Islamabad reached a historic low over trial of war criminals. The government of Bangladesh restricted issuing visas to Pakistani businessmen, members of the civil society and cultural personalities. Pakistan also in some cases also restricted visas to Bangladeshis.
The issuing of restricted visas stood in the way of promoting people-to-people relations between two countries. The regional cooperation among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union (EU), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Latin American (LatAm) counties is the best example to counties of South Asia- region of less integration and mistrust, said a Bangladesh diplomat.
The Dhaka-Islamabad talks are important against the backdrop of the changing environment in Bangladesh and in restoring normal relations between the Bangladesh–Pakistan that suffered during the last 17 years, said a high official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who worked in Islamabad and Karachi. The relations between two South Asian countries reached a historic low during the last Awami League regime ranging between 2009-2024, said some Bangladesh diplomats.
The relations follow a notable thaw in relations since August last year, after a mass uprising toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina, who later fled to India. For decades after Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, following a bloody war of separation from what was then West Pakistan, Dhaka had kept Islamabad at a diplomatic distance, maintaining closer ties with New Delhi. Since the political shift in Dhaka, the two countries have taken steps to rebuild ties. ….
Meanwhile, the Dhaka-Islamabad relations gained momentum as the Dhaka–Islamabad Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) was held on April 17, 2025 after a gap of nearly 15 years, sources in Dhaka, Islamabad and Karachi said. The last bilateral consultation between the countries was held in Islamabad in 2010.
Pakistan has been working hard to boost its relationship with Bangladesh since the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2025 through a mass movement, engineered by common students.
