RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Pakistan and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen military cooperation as top commanders of both countries underscored the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation between their armed forces to address regional security challenges, the Pakistani military media wing said on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, who is on an official visit to Bangladesh, met Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, at Army Headquarters in Dhaka to discuss expanding defence cooperation and regional security, the Pakistani military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
During the meeting, both sides appreciated the positive trajectory of expanding defence cooperation between the two countries and agreed to maintain regular exchange visits at various tiers of military leadership, ISPR stated.
“The two dignitaries discussed the evolving global and regional security environment and underscored the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Armed Forces of Pakistan and Bangladesh,” ISPR stated.
The top military commanders also discussed various areas of defence cooperation, including training, joint exercises, and the sharing of experiences in counter-terrorism.
Both sides also noted the emerging challenges posed by disruptive and divisive disinformation efforts across multiple platforms, recognizing them as a common concern.
They reaffirmed the need to enhance cooperation and joint efforts to effectively counter these threats.
The senior-most Pakistani military officer General Mirza’s visit marks the first visit by Pakistan’s top military officer to Bangladesh since the 1971 split.
Earlier on Saturday, CJCSC General Mirza met with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to discuss key areas such as bilateral trade, investment, and defence cooperation.
The meeting took place at the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka, where both leaders addressed a range of topics aimed at strengthening Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, according to Yunus’s office.
General Mirza highlighted the shared historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two countries and expressed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, pointing out the significant potential for expanding trade, connectivity, and investment.
Ties have improved since the fall of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration, who was seen as closely aligned with India and critical of Pakistan. This shift occurred following the student-led uprising in August 2024.
Pakistan has sought to strengthen its relations with Bangladesh in recent months, particularly as tensions remain between Dhaka and New Delhi, following India’s decision to offer asylum to Hasina after she fled Bangladesh.
