Dhaka and Islamabad Resume Foreign Office Consultations After 15 Years

After a hiatus of nearly 15 years, Bangladesh and Pakistan convened a Foreign Secretary-level Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Dhaka. The meeting took place at the State Guest House Padma and was led by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.

Both delegations engaged in comprehensive discussions on bilateral matters, with a particular emphasis on enhancing trade relations between the two countries. Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin is expected to brief the media on the outcomes of the consultation later in the day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Additionally, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch will pay courtesy calls on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. The last FOC between the two nations was held in 2010. In a further development, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Dhaka later this month, marking the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since 2012.