After 15 Years, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Visit Dhaka: Bilateral Relations Enter a New Phase

After 15 years of stagnation, the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to enter a new phase. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Dhaka for a high-level visit in the third week of August. During this visit, several important agreements are expected to be signed.

According to official diplomatic sources, the visit, which was postponed in April, is now likely to take place successfully, with Ishaq Dar expected to arrive in Dhaka on August 22 or 23. Islamabad intends to signal strengthening of ties during this visit.

The visit was previously postponed following increased tensions at the border after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, on April 27. However, political changes have increased Pakistan’s interest in visiting Dhaka, according to diplomatic observers. Positive responses regarding bilateral relations have been observed after the formation of Bangladesh’s interim government.

Following this visit, Pakistan aims to host a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between the two countries in Islamabad. The last (eighth) JEC meeting was held in Dhaka in September 2005.

Recently, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus have met twice. Particularly during their second meeting in Egypt, Dr. Yunus mentioned the issue of apology regarding 1971, which is considered significant for bilateral relations.

In Dhaka, Ishaq Dar will hold key meetings with Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md. Tauhid Hossain and will also pay a courtesy visit to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. At an international conference in New York, Ishaq Dar and Tauhid Hossain discussed visa facilitation and trade expansion for Bangladesh, showing positive interest.

A diplomat stated that preparations for the visit are nearly complete, and several important agreements are expected to be signed. Ishaq Dar may also hold talks with Bangladeshi political leaders.

However, Bangladesh is expected to raise critical unresolved issues such as unconditional apology for the 1971 Liberation War genocide, war reparations, repatriation of detained Pakistani nationals, and settlement of property claims.

Foreign Adviser Md. Tauhid Hossain has repeatedly emphasized, “There will be no attempt to improve relations with Pakistan by ignoring 1971,” adding that Pakistan’s sincere apology would create an opportunity for better relations.

The schedule for the upcoming Foreign Minister-level meeting between Dhaka and Islamabad has not yet been finalized but is expected to be set in early August.

High-level visits between the two countries have been very limited in recent years; the last ministerial visit was by Pakistan’s then Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Dhaka in 2012. This upcoming visit is seen as a major step toward rebuilding relations.