ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday met Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain to review the full gamut of bilateral relations, as Islamabad seeks to elevate ties with Dhaka to a new level.
During the meeting, as per the Foreign Office, both sides reviewed “high-level exchanges, trade and economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, cooperation on education and capacity building, and humanitarian issues”.
The two countries are also discussing regional and international matters, including the rejuvenation of SAARC and the resolution of the Palestine and the Rohingya issue, and both sides agreed to work for further strengthening of bilateral relations.
“The talks took place in a constructive atmosphere, reflecting the existing goodwill and cordiality between the two countries,” the FO statement said.
The meeting comes as FM Dar reached Dhaka on Saturday marking the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to the country in 13 years.
His two-day visit comes in response to the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and will see the Pakistani dignitary meeting the country’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The development is to be taken against the backdrop of warming ties between Islamabad and Dhaka ever since the ouster of PM Hasina — who fled to India — after a mass student-led uprising.
Since then, Pakistan and Bangladesh began sea trade last year, expanding government-to-government commerce in February. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also held several interactions with Bangladesh’s Yunus.
Earlier today, FM Dar, accompanied by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, held a breakfast meeting with Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, who was flanked by several other key Bangladeshi officials.
During the huddle, both sides discussed ways to promote economic and commercial cooperation, with a special focus on enhancing trade and promoting connectivity.
On Saturday, as per the FO spokesperson, Pakistan and Bangladesh signed six memorandum of understanding (MoUs), which included an agreement on visa waiver for diplomats and government officials.
— With additional input from APP
