Ishaq Dar to Represent Pakistan on Official Visit to Bangladesh
Ishaq Dar to Represent Pakistan on Official Visit to Bangladesh
Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan will visit Bangladesh next month in an effort to fortify the country’s relationship with Dhaka in the face of a changing political landscape.
Ishaq Dar’s forthcoming voyage to Dhaka will mark the first time a Pakistani foreign minister has visited the city since 2012.In the interim, Bangladesh consistently advocated for Pakistan to “seek public apology with a formal announcement” for the atrocities committed against unarmed Bangalees in 1971 during the previous regime.During a meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in February 2023, Bangladesh communicated the same message to the former State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar.
The Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, invited Pakistan’s foreign minister to visit Malaysia during the PM meeting to facilitate the development of a roadmap, promote trade, and guarantee meaningful business-to-business community interaction.Therefore, I will be in Malaysia from February 3 to 5. The Pakistan Foreign Minister announced during a media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday that he will also visit Bangladesh after completing his visit to Malaysia on the invitation of Dr. Yunus, which he received in Cairo.He characterised his forthcoming visit to Bangladesh as “critical,” emphasising that it is their “lost brother.”
“We will work, support and cooperate on the economic and trade fronts, and things are moving fast,” stated Ishaq Dar.In December 2024, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus convened on the outskirts of the D8 Summit to fortify their bilateral ties.Dr Yunus encouraged his Pakistani counterpart to resolve the 1971 issues to facilitate Dhaka’s progress in its relationship with Islamabad.
“The problems have persisted in recurrence.” Yunus advised Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, “Let us resolve those matters to progress.”Sharif stated that the 1974 tripartite agreement between Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India resolved the matter; however, he would be delighted to address any additional outstanding issues.According to Prof. Yunus, resolving the matter “once and for all and for future generations” would be beneficial.The two leaders also intended to expand their collaboration to include new sectors, such as dengue management and the sugar industry.
Prof. Yunus and Sharif engaged in a conversation regarding matters of mutual interest, which included the reactivation of the SAARC, a critical component of the foreign policy that the chief adviser established upon his appointment as the interim government’s leader.The 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate also discussed his government’s intention to conduct “essential reforms” and hold the general election before mid-2026.
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