Pakistan Foreign Secretary Visits Bangladesh After 15 Years to Rebuild Ties

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch is coming to Bangladesh on April 16 after a gap of 15 years. She will be attending the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Dhaka. Her Bangladeshi counterpart Md Jashim Uddin will accompany her to discuss a broad spectrum of bilateral issues.

This development marks a significant diplomatic turn, as Dhaka sides with Islamabad at the same time that tensions with New Delhi intensify.

Pakistan-Bangladesh relations warm up

Since the fall of the Awami League-led government last August, ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan have steadily improved. Previously, the two countries rarely held high-level diplomatic talks. Now, with the interim leadership under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the tone has changed. Notably, Bangladesh has eased visa rules for Pakistani nationals and launched direct shipping services. These moves indicate stronger cooperation on both trade and mobility.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary @amnabaloch4 has arrived in Dhaka where she will be holding Bilateral Political Consultations, a first between Bangladesh and Pakistan since 2013 — 12 years later, BPC to be held between Pakistan and Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/9MaJnfmynD

— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) April 16, 2025

After Amina Baloch’s visit, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Dhaka on April 27–28. His visit will further enhance diplomatic activity. These visits indicate that both parties desire to rebuild confidence and deepen relations after decades of silence.

High-level talks have begun

In addition, their leaders have already twice met over the last few months. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladeshi Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus initially met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September. They had another meeting at the D-8 summit in Cairo in December. These early meetings provided the foundation of the current diplomatic thaw.

India-Bangladesh relations continue to decline

At the same time, Bangladesh’s relations with India have plummeted. Muhammad Yunus recently traveled to China, where he called India’s northeastern states “landlocked.” He even hinted that Bangladesh could be used as a gateway for Chinese trade in the region. Indian officials reacted strongly to the comments.

In retaliation, India withdrew a crucial transshipment facility used by Bangladeshi exporters. Consequently, shipping costs are now going to increase—damaging Bangladesh’s readymade garments industry.

New chapter in South Asian diplomacy

Evidently, the recent development is a momentous shift in regional politics. Bangladesh is tilting toward Islamabad, and its tension with New Delhi increases. With diplomatic missions ongoing and trade connections widening, the new relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh is likely to redefine South Asian politics.

How India deals with the new development is a question for the weeks to come.