Dhaka and Islamabad Resume Foreign Office Consultations After 15-Year Hiatus

After nearly 15 years, Bangladesh and Pakistan are poised to hold a foreign secretary-level Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Dhaka on Thursday. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, is set to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday to lead her country’s delegation, as confirmed by a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Md Jashim Uddin, will head the host delegation at the meeting, scheduled at the state guest house Padma.

The discussions are expected to encompass the full spectrum of bilateral issues, although no specific agenda has been fixed. A Foreign Ministry official stated that the talks would be comprehensive, covering all areas of mutual interest. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Md Iqbal Hussain Khan—currently in Dhaka for the meeting—mentioned that Islamabad is particularly eager to enhance trade ties, with an emphasis on increasing exports to Bangladesh, particularly in sectors like cotton.

He further noted that Pakistan’s position as a transit hub for goods from Afghanistan and Iran offers Bangladesh an opportunity to explore imports through the country, contingent on cost-effective transportation. Regarding air connectivity, he highlighted that apart from Fly Jinnah, another Pakistani airline, Air Sial, has applied to Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) to operate direct flights to Dhaka. Fly Jinnah plans to expand its fleet before initiating operations, while Air Sial is likely to commence flights within two months of receiving approval. This direct air link is expected to facilitate tourism and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Commenting on unresolved historical matters, the envoy remarked that such issues are not uncommon in bilateral relations and should not impede ongoing dialogue or economic cooperation. During her visit, Foreign Secretary Baloch is also scheduled to make courtesy calls on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain.

In addition, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, is slated to visit Dhaka later this month—marking the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since 2012. The visit is tentatively scheduled for the last week of April. The last FOC between the two nations was held in 2010.