DHAKA — For the first time in 15 years, Pakistan and Bangladesh have officially resumed high-level diplomatic talks, signaling a major thaw in relations that have been frosty for over a decade.
The long-awaited Bilateral Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) are being held in Dhaka today (Thursday), with both countries aiming to reset their relationship and open the door to greater cooperation on regional and economic fronts.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is leading the Pakistani delegation, while her Bangladeshi counterpart Jashim Uddin heads the host team. The talks are taking place at the State Guest House Padma.
According to Bangladeshi media, the agenda includes discussions on regional issues, mutual interests, trade, people-to-people contact, and strategies to enhance bilateral collaboration. This fresh round of dialogue marks a significant step toward normalising diplomatic ties that have been tense for years.
Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday for her two-day official visit. Apart from the FOC, she is scheduled to meet Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, as well as engage with local think tanks and the Pakistani community in Dhaka later this evening.
In a sign of growing goodwill, Bangladesh has recently relaxed visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals and has initiated direct shipping links—two moves widely seen as gestures to boost economic and diplomatic engagement.
Pakistan, for its part, is eager to strengthen ties through trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchange. The two countries have also been exploring ways to expand exports, with Pakistan eyeing Bangladesh’s market for its price-competitive goods.
Adding further momentum, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit Bangladesh later this month, underlining Islamabad’s renewed focus on rebuilding relations with Dhaka.
Relations between the two South Asian nations have gradually warmed since the fall of the Awami League-led government in August last year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Adviser Yunus have met twice in recent months—first at the UN General Assembly in New York in September, and again at the D-8 summit in Cairo in December—paving the way for this diplomatic revival.
“This is an important moment to open a new chapter,” said Iqbal Hussain Khan, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, who is also in Dhaka for the talks. “There is real potential for enhanced cooperation if both sides remain committed.”
Today’s meeting could mark the beginning of a more collaborative and forward-looking relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
