Muhammad Ibrahim

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: Pakistan signaled important meetings and an intent to deepen political, economic and regional cooperation with Bangladesh as Islamabad&rsquo;s senior leadership attends the oath-taking of Dhaka&rsquo;s incoming government, following a landslide election that reset the country&rsquo;s power balance and endorsed sweeping constitutional reforms.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka on Tuesday, Pakistan Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said he was representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at what he described as a &ldquo;historic democratic transition&rdquo; in Bangladesh, adding that the Pakistani leader was keen to visit at the earliest opportunity. He also extended an invitation to Tarique Rahman to plan a visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.&nbsp;&ldquo;I am here to represent the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan at a very historic moment when Bangladesh is making a democratic transition and a new government is being sworn in,&rdquo; Iqbal said. &ldquo;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would very much like to visit Bangladesh as early as possible.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iqbal said he would meet Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman, and the leader of the opposition, conveying Islamabad&rsquo;s message of partnership and support.&nbsp;&ldquo;We look forward to a new journey between Pakistan and Bangladesh, towards prosperity and stability, not only for our region but for our people,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Bangladesh&rsquo;s new government takes office after the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the first competitive vote since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s 15-year rule. Final results show the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing 209 of 297 declared seats, rising to 212 seats with allies, giving it a commanding parliamentary majority. Voter turnout stood at 59.44%.&nbsp;&lsquo;Twin brothers&rsquo; and a regional resetFraming Pakistan-Bangladesh ties as historically deep and forward-looking, Iqbal described the two countries as &ldquo;twin brothers,&rdquo; citing shared civilizational links, similar demographic profiles and parallel development challenges.&nbsp;&ldquo;Both Pakistan and Bangladesh are young countries with very similar economic characteristics,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This gives us a great opportunity to build bridges between our youth and work together to create opportunities.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iqbal said Islamabad sees Dhaka as a key partner in reviving regional cooperation, particularly through South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which he said has long been stalled.&nbsp;&ldquo;South Asia is the least regionally integrated region in the world,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Both Pakistan and Bangladesh can play a very important role in reviving and reactivating SAARC, because regional cooperation is now key to economic progress.&rdquo;&nbsp;Founded in 1985, SAARC brings together eight South Asian countries with the stated aim of promoting regional integration through trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties. Despite representing nearly a quarter of the world&rsquo;s population, intra-regional trade remains below 6%, with political tensions repeatedly stalling summits and initiatives.&nbsp;Trade, youth and investmentIqbal said economic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh remain far below potential, with bilateral trade still under $1 billion, and called for an urgent push to expand commerce, investment and connectivity.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is tremendous opportunity to promote trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said, adding that he would meet Bangladeshi business leaders during the visit and engage with students to strengthen youth-to-youth links.&nbsp;He highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s announcement of 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students, calling it the foundation of a &ldquo;Bangladesh-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor.&rdquo;&nbsp;Shared sovereignty, shared challengesOn foreign policy, Iqbal stressed strategic autonomy and equal sovereignty as guiding principles, drawing parallels between Pakistan&rsquo;s and Bangladesh&rsquo;s political trajectories.&nbsp;&ldquo;Every country, no matter how small, has equal sovereignty,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We cannot accept hegemony on the basis of geography or power.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said both countries also share vulnerabilities to climate change, water security challenges and the need to build economic resilience, arguing that cooperation in climate adaptation, technology and skills development should be priorities. &quot;Both countries would like to see that international conventions for water should be respected. Recently, India has weaponized water from a controversial region. Which is not India, it occupied Jammu and Kashmir. And from there, it is weaponizing water. I think Bangladesh also would be closely watching these developments&quot;&nbsp;Cultural bridges and Iqbal AcademyBeyond economics and diplomacy, Iqbal pointed to cultural and intellectual links, proposing the revival of an Iqbal Academy in Bangladesh ahead of the 150th birth anniversary of philosopher-poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal next year.&nbsp;&ldquo;Iqbal is a common bridge between our people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;He gave South Asian Muslims a sense of identity and hope during colonial rule.&rdquo;&nbsp;With Bangladesh&rsquo;s new government taking office on the back of a strong electoral mandate and a voter-endorsed reform charter, both sides framed the moment as an opportunity to reset ties on pragmatic, forward-looking lines.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are not authors of the bitter past,&rdquo; Iqbal said. &ldquo;We are custodians of the future. History will judge us by the path we choose now.&rdquo;

Pakistan Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, speaks to Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on February 17, 2026.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal in Dhaka says the country aims to expand trade, revive regional cooperation, and build stronger youth and cultural links with Bangladesh following its election and formation of the new government.

Pakistan minister signals PM visit intent as Bangladesh's new government takes office

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/biman-airlines-restores-direct-dhakakarachi-flights-after-14-years-hiatus" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">welcomed</a>&nbsp;the long-awaited return of direct flights from Bangladesh as Biman Bangladesh Airlines landed at Karachi&rsquo;s Jinnah International Airport from Dhaka on Thursday, completing its inaugural service after a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/direct-bangladeshpakistan-flights-to-resume-after-14-years" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">14-year hiatus</a>. Bangladesh&rsquo;s national flag carrier resumed direct passenger flights on the Dhaka-Karachi route, restoring nonstop air connectivity between the two countries. In a statement on X early Friday, PIA described the development as &ldquo;reconnecting hearts through the skies,&rdquo; welcoming the long-awaited return of the link.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2016964319565795463&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=c17fb65b6c3ff08e1e51772ea51bd5052bf6f639&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Separately, the Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh called the restoration of flights after 14 years &ldquo;a significant milestone in strengthening connectivity and bilateral engagement.&rdquo; According to a post on X, Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Bangladesh recalled the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh&rsquo;s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to enhance connectivity between the two nations.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 625px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2016903341205500333&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=c17fb65b6c3ff08e1e51772ea51bd5052bf6f639&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He added that the operationalization of the flights will play a key role in enhancing &ldquo;youth, academic, cultural, business, people-to-people, and familial exchanges.&rdquo; The commission also noted that passengers on the inaugural flight expressed &ldquo;happiness and enthusiasm over the restoration of the direct air link, describing it as a milestone towards bringing the two countries closer.&rdquo; The resumption of direct flights is seen as a practical step toward improving people-to-people contact and strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Direct air links are expected to ease travel for business communities and families, signaling a modest but meaningful thaw in regional connectivity.

Pakistan's high commissioner to Bangladesh recalls vision of PM Sharif, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Yunus aimed at enhancing connectivity between the two countries; adds operationalization of the flights will play a key role in enhancing “youth, academic, cultural, business, people-to-people and familial exchanges.”


PIA welcomes long-awaited Bangladesh flight as Biman lands in Karachi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan joined Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and five other Muslim-majority nations in backing a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-at-un-says-next-phase-of-gaza-peace-plan-should-consolidate-ceasefire-cessation-of-hostilities" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gaza peace</a>&nbsp;initiative, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Thursday. Speaking to reporters at a weekly press briefing, Andrabi stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif aligned Pakistan with Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and T&uuml;rkiye&nbsp;in supporting implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The eight countries joined the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-joining-board-of-peace-raises-occupied-kashmir-alarm-for-india" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Board of Peace</a> and issued a joint statement on the initiative during Sharif&#39;s Jan. 20-22 visit, the spokesperson said. PM Sharif also participated in a session titled &quot;Restoring Spirit of Dialogue in a Divided World&quot; at the forum&#39;s annual gathering, the ministry said. He met with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and addressed an event at the Pakistan Pavilion. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar accompanied Sharif to Davos, where he met with foreign ministers from Canada, Finland and Thailand, as well as the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the ministry said. Dar inaugurated the Pathfinder Group&#39;s Pakistan Pavilion, showcasing Pakistan&#39;s <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-appreciates-gates-foundation-support-reaffirms-polio-eradication-commitment" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">economic</a> potential and emerging opportunities. He discussed the role of startups in advancing socio-economic development and driving innovation across diverse sectors. The deputy prime minister stated that the government was committed to facilitating and promoting entrepreneurs and startups, particularly those led by youth, to realize Pakistan&#39;s economic potential. Returning from Davos, Dar stopped in the UAE to meet the chairman of Abu Dhabi&#39;s Department of Finance and secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs, who also serves as chairman of Etisalat and vice chairman of Abu Dhabi Holding Company. The two sides explored opportunities to increase UAE investment in Pakistan and exchanged views on broadening trade and economic relations. Discussions focused on Etisalat&#39;s ongoing investments in Pakistan and its plans to expand through its stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd. According to the spokesperson, they discussed resolving issues related to PTCL&#39;s operations and future growth. Dar talked about the need to promptly settle remaining issues and cooperate closely to enhance bilateral economic relations, build on historic goodwill and open new avenues of investment, trade and joint ventures. The UAE side expressed full agreement and reaffirmed a strong commitment to advancing shared objectives, Andrabi stated. Both sides agreed to pursue joint efforts to expedite the resolution of outstanding matters. President&rsquo;s visit to the UAE President Asif Ali Zardari was on an official visit to the UAE from Sunday through Wednesday. The spokesperson stated that on Monday, President Zardari met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, technology, and people-to-people exchanges. The president highlighted Sheikh Mohammed&#39;s recent visit to Pakistan and expressed hope for continued support for strengthening bilateral ties. Both leaders exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability and sustainable development. The visit reflects &quot;deep brotherly ties and mutually rewarding partnership&quot; between the two countries, the spokesperson said. Myanmar visit to Pakistan Myanmar Foreign Minister Thanh Sui <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-myanmar-sign-mou-establishing-framework-for-regular-diplomatic-consultations" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">visited</a> Pakistan this week. In his meeting with Dar, the full gamut of bilateral relations between the two Asian states was reviewed. According to the spokesperson, the two countries decided to expand cooperation across diverse sectors, including religious tourism, people-to-people contact and cultural exchanges. They exchanged views on regional and international peace and security and agreed to remain in contact on matters of mutual understanding. Both sides signed memorandums of understanding on political consultations to facilitate regular dialogue on bilateral, regional and institutional issues. Telephonic conversation with EU VP Dar also held a telephone conversation with EU High Representative and Vice President <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-still-eus-biggest-ally-says-kaja-kallas" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kaja Kallas</a>, welcoming positive momentum in Pakistan-EU relations, the spokesperson said. Both leaders discussed ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation. They exchanged views on recent regional and international developments, including Iran. Dar reaffirmed the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement, and both sides agreed to remain in close contact. Iran The deputy prime minister also spoke twice this week with Iranian Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-time-running-out-as-iran-vows-tough-response" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Abbas Araqchi</a>. The two leaders exchanged views on current regional and international developments and discussed the current situation in Iran and the wider region. Dar expressed hope for peace and stability, and both sides agreed to continue regular consultations on matters of mutual interest. Diplomatic engagements with Muslim nations Dar spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the ministry said. During these conversations, the officials reviewed bilateral and regional developments and agreed to remain in close contact on key regional and international matters. He also held a telephone conversation with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain. They reviewed Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral relations, including trade and economic cooperation, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration across multiple sectors. The two South Asian leaders exchanged views on current regional and international developments. They discussed the importance of sustained engagement to advance shared interests in promoting regional peace and prosperity. Pakistan-Belgium ties The foreign office spokesperson stated that Pakistan and Belgium held the fourth session of bilateral political consultations this week. Pakistan&#39;s delegation was led by Additional Secretary for Europe Aisha Ali, while the Belgian delegation was led by Director-General Bridget Stephens. The two sides appreciated positive momentum in bilateral relations in areas such as trade, investment, education, health science and people-to-people contact. Ali thanked her Belgian counterpart for continued support for Pakistan&#39;s GSP Plus status. The Belgian delegation paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. Ghana Pakistan and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ghana-boat-capsize-kills-15-mostly-children-authorities" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ghana&nbsp;</a>held their inaugural session of bilateral political consultations on Jan. 26 in Ghana, Andrabi said. The milestone marked a development in bilateral relations between the two countries. The Pakistani delegation was led by Additional Foreign Secretary Hamid Asad Khan, while the Ghanaian side was led by Chief Director Khadija Idrissou of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides signed an MOU on bilateral political consultations and another MOU on collaboration between the Foreign Service Academy and the Ghanaian Foreign Service Institute. They agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations across political, economic, defense, tourism, cultural, trade, education and IT sectors to promote mutually beneficial cooperation. The next round of consultations will be held in Islamabad in 2027, the foreign office spokesperson stated.

Pakistan endorsed a UN-backed Gaza peace plan at Davos while the country's leaders pursued diplomacy, investment and trade opportunities, holding high-level meetings with Gulf, Asian, European and African partners during multiple international visits.

Pakistan joins Saudi Arabia, Türkiye in backing UN Gaza Peace Plan

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s Air Force chief on Thursday held talks with Pakistan&rsquo;s top military leadership, underscoring continued defense engagement and cooperation between the two South Asian countries, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.&nbsp;According to the military&rsquo;s media wing, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met separately with Pakistan&rsquo;s naval and army chiefs during his visit to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.&nbsp;The Bangladeshi air chief called on Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad, where the two discussed regional security developments and bilateral defence cooperation, the ISPR statement said.&nbsp;Admiral Ashraf briefed his counterpart on Pakistan Navy initiatives aimed at promoting maritime peace and stability in the region. Air Chief Marshal Khan acknowledged the Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s &ldquo;high professional standards,&rdquo; according to the statement.&nbsp;Both sides agreed to enhance high-level military exchanges and expand joint training programs.&nbsp;Khan also met Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The discussions focused on the regional security environment and ways to further strengthen defense and military-to-military cooperation.&nbsp;The two leaders reviewed avenues for expanding professional collaboration, training exchanges and institutional linkages between the armed forces of Pakistan and Bangladesh, the military said.&nbsp;The Bangladeshi air chief appreciated the role of Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces in promoting regional peace and stability. Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to maintaining and strengthening defense relations with Bangladesh.&nbsp;The visit follows a trip by Pakistan&rsquo;s naval chief to Dhaka in late 2025, reflecting growing defense-level engagement between the two countries, the ISPR added.

Security

Bangladesh’s air chief meets Pakistan’s top military leaders to discuss regional security, enhance defence cooperation, expand joint training, and strengthen professional ties between armed forces.

Bangladesh, Pakistan discuss regional security, boost defense cooperation talks

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s Adviser for Environment Syeda Rizwana Hassan has said that Pakistan and Bangladesh are working to start direct flights via a third country and expressed hope that the people of both countries will be able to travel visa-free in the near future. Bangladeshi advisor expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV. She is visiting Pakistan to attend 28th Sustainable Development Conference organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad from November 4 to 7. Hassan said there will be a decision at the government level on starting direct flight between both countries. &ldquo;I am happy to share that both countries are considering positively the engagement of the third country for flights from Bangladesh to Pakistan and Pakistan to Bangladesh, something they called the fifth freedom,&rdquo; she said, adding that there are logistical shortcomings and airspace-related complications, which is why a third country is required. &ldquo;I am very hopeful that the issue of visa and direct connectivity should be resolved as soon as possible,&rdquo; she added. Expressing hope for visa-free travel under the SAARC framework, the Bangladeshi adviser expressed optimism that the common people of both countries would be able to travel visa-free in the near future.<video controls="" src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/52d25772-833e-4df7-b197-272abda91131-WhatsApp Video 2025-11-05 at 1.50.53 PM.mp4" class="fr-draggable fr-fvc fr-dvi"> </video>&ldquo;On the visa issue, both countries have agreed that diplomatic passports will no longer require a visa,&rdquo; she continued.&nbsp; &ldquo;We have to build trust between the communities; it is important that this facility may be extended to communities, people, and businesspeople.&rdquo; She informed that there is a dialogue ongoing between the two countries in this regard and hoped for a positive outcome.&nbsp;&ldquo;I look forward to a day when people of both countries will be able to go to other countries without having to obtain a primary visa and will be able to travel on a visa-on-arrival basis,&rdquo; she added. In recent months, Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken concrete steps to restore closer links, including the launch of a direct shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong as part of a broader push to boost connectivity and trade. Both countries have also eased travel-and-visa procedures, notably by agreeing that diplomatic passports will no longer require a visa.

Beyond Borders

Bangladeshi advisor expresses these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV. She is in Pakistan to attend 28th Sustainable Development Conference organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan bangladesh relations"

Pakistan minister signals PM visit intent as Bangladesh's new government takes office

PIA welcomes long-awaited Bangladesh flight as Biman lands in Karachi

Pakistan joins Saudi Arabia, Türkiye in backing UN Gaza Peace Plan

Bangladesh, Pakistan discuss regional security, boost defense cooperation talks

Bangladesh adviser says Islamabad, Dhaka working to restore direct flights, hopes for visa-free travel