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Foreign ministers

Pakistan and Bangladesh Strengthen Ties Amid Regional Power Dynamics

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, concluded a historic two-day visit to Bangladesh on August 25, marking the first time in 13 years a senior Pakistani official had visited the country. The trip symbolized a major breakthrough in bilateral relations, which had thawed rapidly since the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Dar's visit followed a series of military and diplomatic engagements between the two nations, including the Pakistani Prime Minister's meeting with Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, leader of Bangladesh's interim government, twice last year.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pakistan and Bangladesh have strengthened ties significantly, with high-level exchanges and a commitment to deepen cooperation.
  • The August 2024 ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina marked a turning point in relations, with the new government responding positively to Pakistan's gestures.
  • Military and diplomatic engagements have intensified, with Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visiting Dhaka in April and the Bangladeshi naval chief, Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, following in February.
  • Dar's visit marked the first time a senior Pakistani official had visited Bangladesh in 13 years, and hecalled the tour the start of "a new phase of our reinvigorated partnership".
  • Delwar Hossain, an international relations professor at the University of Dhaka, said Pakistan's efforts to strengthen ties are strategic and driven by a desire to normalise relations and exploit tensions in Bangladesh-India relations.
  • Bangladesh's war of independence legacy has historically complicated relations with Pakistan, but a new generation of leaders is willing to move forward and build on economic and regional cooperation.
  • China's growing influence in South Asia has further complicated regional dynamics, but Bangladesh is considering buying 12 J-10C fighter jets from China, marking a significant shift in its weapons procurement strategy.
  • Bangladesh and Pakistan have a combined population of 430 million, making them a significant economic force in the region, and bilateral trade is modest but holds promise for growth.

Statistics:

  • 13 years since a senior Pakistani official visited Bangladesh (last time in 2012)
  • 54 years since Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan
  • 2.5 percent growth in Pakistan's GDP in 2024
  • 6 percent growth in Bangladesh's GDP since 2021
  • 12 J-10C fighter jets under consideration for purchase by Bangladesh from China
  • 430 million combined population of Pakistan and Bangladesh

Sources:

  • [1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/24/pakistan-foreign-minister-in-bangladesh-for-historic-visit-to-boost-ties
  • [2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/17/pakistan-pulls-closer-to-post-hasina-bangladesh-amid-shared-india-concerns
  • [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/14/what-did-india-and-pakistan-gain-and-lose-in-their-military-standoff
  • [4] https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/7/17/contrary-to-indias-fears-bangladesh-is-not-joining-a-china-pakistan-axis

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