Staff Reporter :
Pakistan has laid emphasis on normalising the long-stalled bilateral relations with Bangladesh, following the political changeover. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is interested in maintaining a positive as well as constructive relationship on different areas of cooperation, including trade.
As part of the process, the foreign secretary of Pakistan, Amna Baloch,
is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday. The talks between Bangladesh and Pakistan will take place at state guest house Padma on Thursday, with foreign secretary of Bangladesh Md Jasim Uddin leading the host delegation and Amna Baloch leading the Pakistani side.
It will be the first foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries in nearly 15 years.
“The two countries are likely to cover a wide range of bilateral matters,” said a foreign official, pointing out that although there is no fixed agenda, all areas of shared interest will likely be touched upon during the discussions.
“Given the long interval since the last meeting, it’s challenging to set priorities in advance. However, the dialogue will be broad and inclusive,” the official added.
Md Iqbal Hussain Khan, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, who is currently in Dhaka for the consultations, told the media that Islamabad is particularly interested in expanding its trade relationship with Bangladesh.
“Pakistan is optimistic about increasing its exports to Bangladesh, especially if its goods are competitively priced,” he stated, highlighting cotton as one of the primary items of interest.
The envoy further mentioned that Pakistan’s strategic location as a transit hub for goods from Afghanistan and Iran opens up possibilities for Bangladesh to import through Pakistan, provided that transportation remains cost-effective.
Regarding direct air connectivity, High Commissioner Khan said that in addition to Fly Jinnah, another private airline from Pakistan, Air Sial-headquartered in Sialkot-has submitted an application to Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) to initiate flights to Dhaka.
“Fly Jinnah is planning to start operations to Dhaka once it expands its fleet, while Air Sial is expected to launch direct flights within two months after securing necessary approvals,” he noted.
The establishment of a direct air route is expected to enhance tourism and foster closer people-to-people connections between the two nations, he added.
When questioned about lingering historical issues between the countries, the high commissioner acknowledged their presence but emphasized that such issues are common in international relations and should not obstruct present-day cooperation or economic progress.
During her visit, Foreign Secretary Baloch is also slated to pay courtesy visits to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain following Thursday’s consultations.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, is also expected to visit Dhaka later this month. This will mark the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since 2012.
“The exact date is still being worked out, but the visit is tentatively scheduled for the last week of April,” the foreign ministry official stated.
The previous session of the foreign secretary- level meeting between Bangladesh and Pakistan was held in 2010.
