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P. 10
OPINION SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10
The Unease amid Newfound
Warmth in Pakistan–
Bangladesh Relations
ASHISH SHUKLA
t has been more than a year
since the downfall of the Awami
ILeague government in Bangla-
desh and the installation of a care-
taker setup with Muhammad Yunus
as its Chief Advisor. For some in the
region and beyond, it was a shocking
development. At the same time, po-
litico-security elites in Pakistan saw it
as an opportunity to reconfigure the
bilateral relations, which were almost
frozen during Sheikh Hasina’s long
tenure.
Pakistan’s overtures were posi-
tively received and responded favor-
ably in the power corridors of Dhaka.
The newfound warmth generated a
kind of euphoria in Pakistan, where
analysts and observers were busy sug-
gesting ways to improve the bilater-
al relationship with Bangladesh and
keep India out of the picture. Some
even suggested the evolution of a tri-
lateral alliance involving Bangladesh,
China and Pakistan.
Burhanul Islam, a retired Ben-
gali diplomat who opted for Pakistan
after the 1971 debacle, suggested
several policy measures to exploit the
developing situation in Bangladesh.
Most of these were worked upon
immediately by Pakistan, including Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar embarked upon a much-awaited and widely publicized visit
inter alia increasing diplomatic foot-
prints in Dhaka and revamping polit- to Dhaka on 23 August (Agency photo)
ical, economic and cultural ties.
The results of these efforts were bilateral trade has increased from rior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had ear- lamabad condemned the execution
soon visible to everyone—three min- US$ 628 million in 2023–24 to US$ lier visited Dhaka in July. of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul
isterial visits to Dhaka, two meet- 865 million in 2024–25. Pakistan’s Indeed, Kamal Khan was pres- Quader Mollah, who was convicted
ings between Muhammad Yunus exports to Bangladesh have risen by ent in Dhaka during Ishaq Dar’s visit for committing crimes against hu-
and Shehbaz Sharif at the sidelines 28 per cent, whereas Bangladesh’s and accompanied him in important manity during the Liberation War of
of international events, a foreign exports to Pakistan have increased by interactions with Bangladesh of- Bangladesh. The relations remained
secretary-level meeting, a high-level 20 per cent. ficials. This was the first state visit at their lowest ebb when Sheikh Ha-
military delegation to Pakistan, fol- Against this background, Paki- of a Pakistani Foreign Minister to sina ruled Bangladesh.
lowed by an ISI delegation to Dha- stan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Bangladesh in the last 13 years. The Ishaq Dar’s two-day state visit
ka, a high-level business delegation Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar em- previous visit by a foreign minister aimed to discuss ways to strengthen
to Dhaka, ease of visa restrictions barked upon a much-awaited and (Hina Rabbani Khar) was in Novem- coordination and intensify re-en-
and improved economic and cultural widely publicized visit to Dhaka on ber 2012 to invite Sheikh Hasina to gagement and cooperation with
ties. All this indicates the enthusiasm 23 August. Commerce Minister Jam the D-8 Summit in Islamabad. The Bangladesh. Dar addressed a press
and energy the two sides have invest- Kamal Khan visited on 22 August (in relations between the two countries conference at the Pakistan High
ed in improving their relations. The a visit that spanned four days). Inte- suffered a setback in 2013 when Is- Continued on next page... >>
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