Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar holds key talks with Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain to strengthen bilateral relations. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq, met Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, in Dhaka on Sunday, August 24, 2025, to discuss deepening bilateral ties, signing multiple agreements, and addressing regional issues, marking the first such high-level visit in 13 years. The talks, held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, aim to reset relations strained since 2013.
Why This Matters in South Asia
The meeting between Ishaq and Touhid signifies a pivotal moment for Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, which have been frosty since Pakistan condemned the 2013 execution of a Bangladeshi Jamaat-e-Islami leader. With Bangladesh’s political landscape shifting after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, this visit underscores a strategic recalibration in South Asia, where improved ties could enhance trade, cultural exchanges, and regional cooperation through platforms like SAARC.
Delegation-Level Talks
The bilateral meeting began with a one-on-one discussion between Pakistan’s foreign minister and Touhid, followed by a delegation-level session at the state guest house Padma. Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan joined Dar, while Touhid led the Bangladeshi delegation. According to Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, the talks covered trade, diplomacy, and regional issues, with five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) expected to be signed. These include visa-free entry for diplomatic and official passport holders, a joint trade working group, and cooperation between state news agencies and foreign service academies.
Economic Cooperation
Bilateral trade has shown promising growth, reaching USD 865 million in FY 2024–25, with Bangladesh’s exports to Pakistan rising by 20% to USD 78 million. Direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong, launched in August 2024, and plans for direct Dhaka–Karachi flights signal further economic integration. Pakistani airlines Fly Jinnah and Air Sial, alongside Biman Bangladesh, are pursuing approvals for these routes. A Pakistani business delegation visited Dhaka in January 2025, the first in 12 years, highlighting renewed commercial interest.
Political Engagements
Dar’s visit extends beyond government talks. On Saturday, August 23, 2025, he met delegations from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP). Discussions with BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir focused on deepening ties and reviving SAARC, while NCP’s Akhtar Hossain urged Pakistan to address unresolved issues from the 1971 Liberation War. Pakistan’s foreign minister also met Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naib Amir Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, praising their resilience and discussing regional developments.
He is scheduled to meet BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence and Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday evening. These residential visits, described as “unprecedented” by analysts, underscore Pakistan’s intent to engage with Bangladesh’s diverse political spectrum.
Background
Pakistan-Bangladesh relations soured after Pakistan condemned the 2013 execution of Abdul Quader Mollah, convicted of 1971 war crimes. The ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, followed by Muhammad Yunus’s appointment as Chief Adviser, created an opportunity to reset ties. Recent diplomatic efforts include foreign secretary-level talks in April 2025 and a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic passports in July 2025. Dar’s visit, initially planned for April 2025 but postponed due to regional tensions, marks the highest-level Pakistani visit since 2012, when Hina Rabbani Khar invited Hasina to a summit in Islamabad.
What’s Next
The signing of MoUs and Dar’s meetings with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and political leaders signal a new phase in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. The planned revival of the Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission in September or October 2025, potentially involving Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, could further boost trade. Addressing historical issues, as raised by Bangladeshi stakeholders, will be crucial for sustaining this momentum in Dhaka.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 24th, 2025.
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