Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday for a landmark two-day visit, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years, signaling a significant step toward rebuilding ties with Bangladesh. The visit, described by Islamabad as a “significant milestone” in bilateral relations, follows the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, which marked a turning point in Dhaka-Islamabad relations.

Dar, also Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, was warmly received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, alongside Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider. The visit comes on the heels of increased diplomatic and economic engagements, including a recent trip by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, who held talks to boost trade and investment ties.

Scheduled for Sunday, Dar will hold bilateral talks with Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, with expectations of signing up to six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering trade, cultural exchange, diplomatic training, and cooperation between state news agencies and agricultural research bodies. Dar is also expected to meet Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, aiming to strengthen political and people-to-people ties.

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The visit follows a thaw in relations since Hasina’s departure, which had strained ties due to her government’s focus on prosecuting collaborators of Pakistani troops from the 1971 Liberation War. The interim government under Yunus has shifted priorities, fostering direct trade links, including sea routes between Karachi and Chattogram, and visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders. However, Bangladesh continues to seek a formal apology from Pakistan for the 1971 atrocities, a demand that remains unmet.

Dar’s trip, originally planned for April but postponed due to heightened India-Pakistan tensions after the Pahalgam attack, builds on recent diplomatic efforts, including Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch’s visit in April—the first such engagement in 15 years. Posts on X reflect optimism about the warming ties, with users calling Pakistan and Bangladesh “lost brothers” reuniting.

As both nations explore new avenues for cooperation, including a revived Joint Economic Commission and business-to-business initiatives, the visit underscores a mutual commitment to overcoming historical tensions. With India watching closely amid its own strained ties with Dhaka post-Hasina, Dar’s visit could reshape regional dynamics, fostering a new era of collaboration between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

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