Pakistani Foreign Minister makes first visit to Bangladesh after 13 years, Ishaq Dar likely to boost trade with…, India now plans to…

The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Dar's visit is an important milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations

Dhaka: In a major development, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Bangladesh for a two-day visit on Saturday. It is important to note that this is the first official visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in 13 years. The relationship between Islamabad and Dhaka improved after Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government of Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. As part of this rapprochement, Dar reached Dhaka at the invitation of the Bangladeshi government.

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As per the reports, in Dhaka, Ishaq Dar will meet not only Bangladesh’s other key leaders but also the head of the interim government, Mohammad Yunus. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, discussions between Dar and Yunus will cover the full range of bilateral cooperation along with regional and international issues of mutual interest. Experts, however, say that the growing closeness between Pakistan and Bangladesh could be a matter of concern for India.

Here are some of the key details:

• The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Dar’s visit is an important milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations
• No Pakistani foreign minister had visited Bangladesh in the past 13 years.
• Before Dar, Hina Rabbani Khar had visited Dhaka in 2012 as Pakistan’s foreign minister.
• Dar’s visit is taking place immediately after Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s official trip to Dhaka.
• Military officials have also been visiting each other’s countries continuously over the past few months.
• Personnel from the Pakistani agency ISI have also made several visits to Dhaka in recent times.
• Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken several steps like boosting trade, initiating direct flights, and granting visa relaxations.

Concerns grow in India:

According to the reports, India is concerned about the interference of the Pakistani military and ISI in Bangladesh. In the past, the Pakistani military and ISI have conspired to destabilize India’s northeastern states.

During Sheikh Hasina’s government, the influence of Pakistani agencies in Bangladesh had significantly reduced. Since Mohammed Yunus came to power, extremists appear to be given free rein, and Pakistanis are being allowed to use land there.