Talks with Bangladesh reflected a shared resolve to revitalise bilateral engagement: Pakistan

The sixth round of Foreign Secretary-level bilateral consultations between Bangladesh and Pakistan reflected a shared resolve to revitalise bilateral engagement, Pakistan foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The statement, published in the website of Pakistan foreign ministry, said, “Pakistan and Bangladesh convened the Sixth Round of Foreign Secretary-Level Bilateral Consultations in Dhaka on 17 April 2025, following a hiatus of 15 years. The talks, led by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch (Pakistan) and Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin (Bangladesh), were held in a cordial atmosphere and reflected a shared resolve to revitalise bilateral engagement.”

It further said the two sides held a comprehensive exchange on political, economic, cultural, educational, and strategic cooperation, underpinned by shared history, cultural affinities, and the common aspirations of their peoples.

“Satisfaction was expressed at recent high-level contacts in New York, Cairo, Samoa, and Jeddah, which have helped reenergise the bilateral relationship.”

According to the statement, both sides emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum through regular institutional dialogue, early finalisation of pending agreements, and enhanced cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, and connectivity. “Pakistan offered academic opportunities in its agricultural universities, while Bangladesh offered technical training in fisheries and maritime studies. The Bangladeshi side also acknowledged scholarship offers from private universities in Pakistan and underscored the need for deeper cooperation in the education sector.”

The Pakistan foreign ministry statement further said that recognising connectivity as a priority, the two sides welcomed the launch of direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong and emphasised the importance of resuming direct air links. They also expressed satisfaction over the progress made in easing travel and visa facilitation.

“The Bangladeshi side appreciated recent performances by renowned Pakistani artists in Dhaka, while the Pakistani side encouraged reciprocal cultural exchanges. Prospects for broader cooperation in sports, media, and cultural institutions were discussed, including the finalisation of various MoUs in these areas.”

“On multilateral issues, both sides reaffirmed the need to revitalise SAARC in line with its founding principles. The Foreign Secretary appreciated the vision of the Bangladeshi leadership and expressed hope that the SAARC process would remain insulated from bilateral political considerations,” the statement read.

The Kashmir issue was also raised in the meeting. According to the statement, Pakistan emphasised the need for an early resolution of the dispute regarding Kashmir in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. The two sides in the meeting strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression and grave human rights violations in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza.

The Pakistan Foreign Secretary called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain separately. Their discussions focused on regional integration, economic linkages, and the importance of insulating bilateral ties from external pressures.

The Foreign Adviser looked forward to the forthcoming visit of Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, to Bangladesh.

The next round of Consultations will be held in Islamabad in 2026, the statement added.