ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and Bangladesh took a significant step toward normalising relations on Sunday, as the two countries signed a series of agreements covering trade, diplomacy, media, education, and cultural exchanges. The development comes during Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s landmark visit to Dhaka, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years.
Dar, who arrived in Bangladesh after years of frosty ties between the two nations, held high-level talks with top Bangladeshi leadership, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Policy Advisor Touhid Hossain. He also met senior political figures, among them former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman.
The visit reflected a clear push by both sides to open a new chapter in their relationship following the fall of the Awami League government last year, which paved the way for renewed engagement.
Six Key Agreements Finalised
During the visit, six agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed. These included:
- Abolishing visa requirements for diplomats and government officials
- An MoU between the two foreign service academies
- Media cooperation between Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)
- MoUs between think tanks from both sides
- A joint working group on trade
- A cultural exchange programme for 2025–2028
Pakistan also announced the launch of a Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, offering 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students over the next five years, including a special allocation for medical studies. Additionally, Islamabad pledged training programmes for 100 Bangladeshi civil servants and expanded scholarships under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme from 5 to 25.
Dar’s Message: Move Beyond 1971
Addressing the media after his meetings, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan wanted to move forward rather than remain stuck in the disputes of the past.
“The issues of 1971 have already been addressed—first in writing in 1974, and later by General Musharraf openly and explicitly. Islam teaches us to keep our hearts clean. We must look ahead and work together because the future of both our countries is bright,” Dar said.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy Advisor Touhid Hossain, while acknowledging progress, maintained that unresolved matters such as an apology for 1971, claims over assets, and the status of stranded Pakistanis were raised during the talks. However, he noted that “it would be wrong to expect problems of 54 years to be solved in a single day.”
“A New Beginning”
Despite these differences, Dar described his engagements in Dhaka as “excellent” and said both sides had shown complete consensus on moving forward, especially in the fields of trade and economic cooperation.
“Our future is bright, and we must work together to deliver for our peoples. This visit reflects the sincerity and goodwill of both nations to reset ties,” Dar added.
The agreements and commitments made in Dhaka signal a potential thaw in relations between two estranged South Asian neighbours, with officials in Islamabad hopeful that this new momentum will pave the way for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.
