DHAKA, Bangladesh: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday reaffirmed Islamabad’s desire for a “cooperative and forward-looking” relationship with Bangladesh during his two-day official visit to Dhaka, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years.
Addressing a press conference at the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka, Deputy PM Dar said he wanted to underscore the Pakistani government’s “strong desire to forge a cooperative and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh”.
Deputy PM Dar said Pakistan was committed to engaging with all stakeholders, including the government, political parties, academia, civil society, media and the youth for the realisation of common goals, including peace, progress and prosperity of the two nations and the region.
Ishaq Dar said his visit came at a time when the region and the world were undergoing a “rapid transformation”. He said that the challenges of climate change, economic volatility, global inequality and security threats threatened everyone.
“We must work together to create an environment where youth from Karachi to Chittagong, Quetta to Rajshahi, Peshawar to Sylhet and Lahore to Dhaka join hands to face these challenges and realise their shared dreams,” Deputy PM Dar said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he was glad to see many positive developments in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh over the past year. He noted that there had been “significant progress in almost all areas of bilateral cooperation”.
Ishaq Dar said that the frequency of high-level exchanges between the two countries had increased, and institutional mechanisms for bilateral engagement were being revived. He noted that economic and commercial cooperation was also gaining momentum.
Furthermore, educational and academic collaboration was being explored, while cultural exchanges were taking place as well, Deputy PM Dar said.
“In a nutshell, today, our bilateral relations are characterised by a new energy and fresh enthusiasm,” Ishaq Dar said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the developments reflected the desire of both countries to move forward and tap the potential for greater bilateral cooperation for the benefit of their people.
Ishaq Dar said it was a “great honour” to be in the Bangladeshi capital at the government’s invitation and expressed his gratitude for the welcome afforded to him and his delegation.
“This evening is special as it brings together a broad spectrum of prominent personalities from politics, academia, business community and media,” he said, adding that he valued the opportunity to interact with them.
The Deputy PM said Pakistan and Bangladesh enjoyed a “multifaceted relationship” that was rooted in shared history, common faith and cultural similarities. “We are two vibrant and dynamic and resilient nations. Our countries are home to the proud people who have faced enormous challenges with dignity and forbearance.”
FM Dar said the bilateral relationship between the two countries was not only political but also grounded in cultural, spiritual and familial ties that stemmed from “centuries of shared traditions, Islamic heritage, social norms, linguistic connections and literary expressions”.
The foreign minister said the above “threads of commonalities were woven into the very fabric of our two societies”, adding that “notwithstanding the twists and turns of history, the people of Pakistan have fraternal sentiments towards the people of Bangladesh and hold them in the highest esteem. We recognise and respect the sovereign choices of the Bangladeshi nation and believe in a future where our relations are defined by not what divides us but what unites us.”
