Schedule and Context of the Visits

Within a span of just two days between August 21 and 23, two Pakistani ministers will visit Dhaka. Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan will arrive on August 21 for a four-day visit. On August 23, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will arrive for a two-day visit.

Diplomatic sources have said that Ishaq Dar’s visit schedule was finalized earlier. Later, Pakistan informed that Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan would also be in Dhaka from August 21 to 24.

Third High-Level Visit in Four Months

These upcoming visits will mark the third high-level visit from Pakistan to Bangladesh in the past four months. Earlier, in April, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch came to Dhaka. Following the political changes on August 5, 2024, she initiated efforts to activate relations between the two countries.

Efforts to Revive Political Relations

Diplomatic sources say Pakistan now wants to strengthen political and economic relations further. During his visit, Ishaq Dar will focus on boosting high-level political dialogue and reviving ties. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s visit will focus on expanding trade relations.

Joint Economic Commission and Future Visits

It has been learned that after the visits of the commerce and foreign ministers, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will visit Dhaka in September or October. He will attend the meeting of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between the two countries, which is being held for the first time since 2005. The Bangladesh side will be led by Salehuddin Ahmed.

Trade Cooperation Agreement

According to the Ministry of Commerce, preparations are underway to sign a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint working group on trade issues between the two countries. If all goes as planned, the agreement will be signed during Jam Kamal Khan’s visit. Additional secretaries from both countries’ commerce ministries will lead the group.

Ishaq Dar’s Meetings and Agreements

On August 24, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will meet Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Md. Touhid Hossain. The meeting is expected to result in agreements on cooperation between the foreign service academies of the two countries and on cultural exchanges.

Progress on Visa Waiver Agreement

Following the visit of Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi last month, the draft of a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders of both countries has been exchanged. If political approval is granted, the agreement could be signed during Ishaq Dar’s visit.

Bangladesh’s Position
Foreign Affairs Adviser, Md. Touhid Hossain has stated that Bangladesh is not offering any special privileges or concessions to Pakistan in bilateral relations, but is instead trying to establish normal relations similar to those with other countries.

He added that discussions will cover business, investment, facilitating people-to-people movement, and three unresolved issues. Although relations were unnecessarily hostile in the past, that phase has now been overcome.