Bangladesh’s Pakistani Foreign Minister holds bilateral talks within 15 years | World News
Bangladesh’s close relationship with Pakistan is once again visible, with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday for the Foreign Ministry Consultation (FOC) held after a 15-year gap.
High-level talks between the two South Asian countries will be held on Thursday at the state hotel Padma. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Jasim Uddin will lead the host delegation.
The two sides are expected to discuss various bilateral issues, including unresolved historical matters between the two countries.
“The two sides are expected to discuss the entire scope of bilateral issues,” Bangladesh’s foreign ministry official said.
He mentioned that since negotiations were conducted after such a long period of disruption, there was no fixed specific agenda and that all areas of common interests might be covered during the discussion.
The relationship between Dhaka and Islamabad remained tense during the 15-year reign of the former Awami Alliance government due to issues such as the trial of war crimes in Bangladesh and broader regional politics. Key issues in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations have always included Pakistan’s role in the genocide of 1971 during the Liberation War, the return of stranded assets and reparations.
But things have changed dramatically since the establishment of the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in August 2024.
During her time in Dhaka, Baloch is expected to call on Yunus and diplomatic adviser Touhid Hossain after Thursday’s focus.
Chief Adviser Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said all issues of common interests will be discussed as Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also plans to make an official visit to Bangladesh later this month.
In September, Yunus met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif outside the UN General Assembly, and both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral relations.
In January, four senior ISI officials, including Analyst Major General Shahid Amin Afsar, visited Dhaka, marking a major shift in relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Bangladesh military delegation led by Sm Kamrul Hasan, chief chief of staff of the armed forces department, also visited Rawalpindi, the Neurocenter of Pakistani military institution, from 13 to 18 January.
The two countries have been historically alienated since the brutal Liberation War of 1971 – Pakistan has forced millions of people to massacre millions of people and raped hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi women – now showing signs of reconciliation.
