Pakistan-Bangladesh ministerial level talks kick off in Dhaka
Islamabad, Hilal Ahmad, August 24, AZERTAC
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Sunday held bilateral meetings with senior officials of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain held a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister who is in Dhaka on a two-day visit. The two leaders first held a brief one-to-one discussion before leading their respective delegations in a formal meeting. Bangladesh’s National Security Advisor and other senior officials also joined the meeting.
According to the Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held wide-ranging talks with the Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh, Touhid Hossain in Dhaka. Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including high level exchanges, trade and economic cooperation, people to people contacts, cultural exchanges, cooperation on education and capacity building, and humanitarian issues. Regional and international issues, including rejuvenation of SAARC and resolution of Palestine and the Rohingya issue were also discussed. Both sides agreed to work for further strengthening of bilateral relations.
According to the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry officials, five to six agreements and memorandums of understanding MoU’s are expected to be signed between the two countries. Earlier, the Deputy Prime Minister also met with Bangladesh’s commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin during his historic visit to Dhaka as the two countries eye to intensify cooperation by building on the reset in ties. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman.
The Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Dhaka is aimed at strengthening ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh. While addressing a function in Dhaka, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed Pakistan's resolve to strengthen ties with Bangladesh. He expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh government for the invitation and conveyed optimism about the future prospects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar noted that the people of both countries desire peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, adding that Pakistan is keen to engage with all stakeholders in Bangladesh. "Our countries share brotherly ties rooted in history and culture," the DPM maintained.
Bangladesh is currently governed by an interim administration led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, whose declared policy of "friendship to all" marks a sharp departure from former ruling party Awami League's India-centric diplomacy. In less than a year, Bangladesh and Pakistan have re-established high-level communication, revitalized economic ties.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has termed the Deputy Prime Minister’s two-day visit to Bangladesh a significant milestone in the two countries’ relations. Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, accompanied by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan is also scheduled to call on Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Prof Muhammad Yunus.
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