KEY POINTS
- Ishaq Dar and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami delegation discuss ways to strengthen Pak-Bangladesh ties.
- Deputy PM Dar lauds the courage of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, workers in face of hardships.
- Ishaq Dar affirms Pakistan’s commitment to mutually beneficial Bangladesh ties.
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday began a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, marking the first trip by a Pakistani foreign minister to Dhaka in 13 years.
The visit, described by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) as “historic,” is aimed at revitalising ties and expanding cooperation across trade, politics and culture.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar is visiting Dhaka from 23–24 August at the invitation of the Government of Bangladesh.
Upon arrival, the Deputy PM was received by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, and senior Bangladeshi officials.
Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, reached Dhaka on an official visit. He was received at the airport by Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, along side Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mr. Imran… pic.twitter.com/96oZ2Hhi9c
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2025
Ishaq Dar is scheduled to meet Bangladesh government’s Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Touhid Hossain and Adviser for Commerce SK Bashir Uddin.
The two sides are expected to sign up to five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering trade, culture, media, training and travel, Bangladeshi state media BSS reported.
The last such visit was in November 2012, when then-Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar made a brief visit to Dhaka.
Engagements with political stakeholders
As part of his interaction with different political stakeholders, Deputy PM Dar on Saturday met representatives of several Bangladeshi political parties. He held talks with a delegation of the National Citizen Party (NCP), led by Akhtar Hossain.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar praised the party’s vision for reform and social justice, and emphasised the need for “greater interaction between the youth of Pakistan and Bangladesh.”
Both sides also discussed opportunities to promote cultural exchanges.
Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50,
received a delegation of National Citizen Party (NCP), led by Mr Akhtar Hossain. During the discussion, DPM/FM appreciated the NCP leadership’s vision for reform and social justice. He emphasised… pic.twitter.com/Bg5VjtXhbf— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2025
Later, the Deputy Prime Minister met a delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Naib Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher.
Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh and recent regional developments.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Ishaq Dar lauded the “courage and steadfastness” of Jamaat leaders in the face of challenges.
As part of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s interaction with different political stakeholders , Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, held a meeting with a delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The delegation was led by Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Naib… pic.twitter.com/bI9hUedtnr
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2025
Deputy PM Dar also met with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the talks as cordial, adding that Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening relations on the basis of “mutual respect and mutual benefit.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @IshaqDar50, met with a delegation from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by its Secretary General, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.
The Deputy Prime… pic.twitter.com/b4i1hPiaAZ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2025
Regional cooperation and SAARC
During his engagements, Deputy PM Dar recalled Bangladesh’s foundational role in establishing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
According to the Foreign Office, regional cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, alongside reflections on past high-level interactions between Islamabad and Dhaka.
Bilateral relations
Ishaq Dar’s visit comes against the backdrop of rapidly warming ties following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year after a mass student-led uprising.
Since then, Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken a series of steps to normalise relations.
In February, the two countries began direct government-to-government trade, starting with imports of 50,000 tonnes of rice.
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan also visited Dhaka this week, where he agreed to establish joint commissions to boost trade and investment.
Defence contacts between the two countries have also resumed, with senior military commanders from both nations meeting in Pakistan last week.
In July, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister Jahangir Alam Chowdhury agreed to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports.
Expanding trade and connectivity
The revival of ties has also seen new transport and trade links. In April, the two countries launched direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong, and both sides have expressed interest in resuming direct air links.
Pakistani airline Fly Jinnah has secured approval to operate flights from Karachi to Dhaka.
Diplomatic engagement resumed in April after 15 years, when Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led Pakistan’s delegation for Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka.
‘Historic visit’
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Dar’s trip represents “a significant milestone” in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.
Discussions will cover “the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including regional and international issues of mutual interest.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, embarks upon a historic visit to Bangladesh. In Dhaka, he will hold important meetings with Bangladeshi leaders. The visit is a significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations as a… pic.twitter.com/In13QwBcJj
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2025
