Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Meets Adviser Touhid in Dhaka, Five MoUs on the Agenda

Dhaka, Aug 2025 — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain this morning at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

The two leaders began with a brief one-to-one discussion before leading their respective delegations in a formal meeting. Dar, accompanied by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, is also scheduled to call on Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus later in the day. In the evening, the delegation is expected to meet BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Focus on Bilateral Cooperation

According to diplomatic sources, the discussions covered the full spectrum of bilateral relations alongside regional and international issues of mutual concern. Officials confirmed that the two countries are set to sign five memorandums of understanding (MoUs), marking a step forward in strengthening relations.

The MoUs include:

• Visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
• Establishing a joint working group on trade and commerce.
• Cooperation between Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
• Collaboration between the two countries’ foreign service academies.
• An additional cultural and training cooperation framework.

The visit’s highlight will be the signing of one agreement and the five MoUs aimed at expanding ties in trade, culture, media, training, and travel.

Renewed Engagement After Years of Strain

The visit marks the highest-level Pakistani engagement with Dhaka in more than a decade. The last foreign ministerial visit took place in November 2012, when Hina Rabbani Khar traveled to Dhaka to invite then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the D-8 summit in Islamabad.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply in 2013 after Pakistan condemned the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah, convicted of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Renewed efforts to mend ties began following Bangladesh’s political transition last year.

Expanding Trade and Connectivity

Economic cooperation has been a central pillar of the renewed engagement. Bilateral trade reached $865 million in FY 2024–25. Bangladesh’s exports to Pakistan stood at $78 million, reflecting a 20 percent increase from the previous year, while Pakistan’s exports grew by 28 percent.

Steps to enhance connectivity have also been notable. Direct shipping between the two countries was launched in August 2024, alongside relaxed visa and trade regimes. Preparations for direct Dhaka–Karachi flights are under way, with Pakistani carriers Fly Jinnah and Air Sial seeking approvals, while Biman Bangladesh is considering applying to Pakistani authorities.

In January, a high-level Pakistani business delegation led by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh visited Dhaka after a 12-year gap, signaling revived economic interest.

Looking Ahead

Foreign ministry officials revealed that both sides are planning to convene the long-stalled Joint Economic Commission meeting in September or October, nearly two decades since its last session. Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb may visit Dhaka for the occasion.

Analysts say Dar’s Dhaka trip signals Islamabad’s renewed diplomatic outreach in South Asia and Dhaka’s willingness to diversify partnerships amid shifting regional dynamics. The signing of MoUs, along with expanded trade and connectivity, is expected to inject fresh momentum into Bangladesh–Pakistan ties after years of stagnation.