Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Dhaka. He was welcomed by Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a special flight at 2 pm on Saturday.
Earlier in the morning, he left for Dhaka on a special flight for a two-day visit. This is the first visit to Bangladesh by a Pakistani foreign minister in nearly 13 years.
A statement from the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that the visit is an important milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.
On the first day of the visit, a reception has been organized by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. On the sidelines of the event, Ishaq Dar will hold separate meetings with several members of Bangladeshi academics, politicians and civil society.
On the second day of the visit, on Sunday, his main meeting will be with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Towhid Hossain. Initially, there will be a private meeting and later there will be delegation-level discussions. After the meeting, five to six agreements and memorandums of understanding are likely to be signed between the two countries.
The talks will focus on bilateral issues, including trade, investment, connectivity, and facilitating the movement of people. Bangladesh wants to move the relationship forward by prioritizing mutual respect, understanding, and common interests. However, diplomats believe that progress will not be sustainable without addressing unresolved issues.
That afternoon, Ishaq Dar will pay a courtesy call on the interim government's chief advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. During the visit, he will visit BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan residence. He is also scheduled to meet with leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami.