Despite the momentum, analysts caution that normalising relations will require political will, patience, and mutual respect. While Islamabad has yet to issue a formal apology, both sides appear increasingly willing to compartmentalise historical grievances in favour of pragmatic cooperation.

Bangladesh and Pakistan are holding their first foreign secretary-level talks in nearly 15 years, signalling a notable thaw in relations long strained by the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War.

The Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), hosted at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka, marks the highest-level diplomatic engagement between the two South Asian nations since 2010. The meeting, which began Thursday morning, is being led by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and his Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch, who arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Officials from both countries have framed the discussions as a pivotal step toward rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation in trade, connectivity, and regional diplomacy, while also revisiting unresolved historical grievances that have shadowed bilateral ties for decades.

The FOC comes ahead of an expected visit by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar later this month, marking the first such trip by a Pakistani foreign minister since Hina Rabbani Khar’s 12-hour visit in 2012. Dar’s visit, expected around April 27–28, is being seen as a continuation of behind-the-scenes diplomatic outreach that has unfolded since the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.

“Pakistan sees this engagement as a meaningful step forward,” said Syed Ahmed Maroof, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Dhaka. “We are looking at wide-ranging cooperation, from trade and transit to people-to-people exchanges.”

As both sides prepare for Deputy Prime Minister Dar’s visit later this month, expectations are rising for further breakthroughs – not only in diplomatic symbolism but in real policy shifts that could redefine South Asia’s often turbulent regional dynamics.

Economic and Transit Ambitions

Economic issues featured prominently in the FOC agenda. Pakistan has expressed strong interest in boosting its exports to Bangladesh, especially in competitive sectors such as textiles, raw cotton, sugar, wheat, and rice. Bangladesh imported goods worth over USD 627 million from Pakistan in FY 2023–24, while exporting around USD 62 million. This highlights the scope for a more balanced trade relationship, members of the Bangladeshi side said.

“Pakistan can offer Bangladesh a transit route for goods from Afghanistan and Iran, provided transportation costs remain feasible,” said Iqbal Hussain Khan, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, currently in Dhaka for the talks.

The two countries are also exploring prospects for direct air connectivity. Fly Jinnah, a Pakistani private airline, is awaiting fleet expansion before launching services to Dhaka, while Air Sial has already applied for regulatory clearance and could commence flights within two months.

From Grievances to Engagement

Despite the forward-looking tone, the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War continues to loom large. Bangladesh has long sought an unconditional apology from Pakistan for wartime atrocities, along with compensation, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, and a fair share of pre-1971 assets.

While Islamabad has yet to issue a formal apology, both sides appear increasingly willing to compartmentalise historical grievances in favour of pragmatic cooperation.

“Historical issues are not uncommon in international diplomacy,” said High Commissioner Khan. “But they should not prevent us from pursuing mutually beneficial engagement.”

Foreign policy analysts note that the new political context in Dhaka, with a caretaker administration under Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, has opened the door for a reconfiguration of regional ties, particularly with Pakistan.

Amna Baloch is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during her stay, and will meet with think tanks and the Pakistani diaspora in the capital this evening.

Despite the momentum, analysts caution that normalising relations will require political will, patience, and mutual respect.

“The FOC is a good beginning,” said a senior Bangladeshi diplomat who requested anonymity. “But sustainable progress will depend on how candidly both countries can address core historical issues while building trust through tangible cooperation.”

Signs of Warming Relations

This week’s developments follow a series of quiet diplomatic overtures over the past year that hinted at a recalibration in Dhaka-Islamabad relations. In September 2024, Pakistan’s envoy met with officials in Bangladesh to discuss the “question of 1971” and future cooperation. A significant moment came in December when Bangladesh lifted its longstanding security clearance requirement for Pakistani visa applicants. This policy was introduced in 2019 during a particularly tense period in bilateral relations.

That same month, a Pakistani cargo ship docked at Chittagong Port for the first time since 1971, a move hailed as symbolic of an emerging detente.

Both nations have since engaged in a flurry of diplomatic interactions, including meetings between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September and the D-8 Summit in Cairo in December.

Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Additional Secretary for Asia Pacific, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, met with Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin in Dhaka to discuss the revival of the Joint Economic Commission, which last met in 2005.

The ongoing consultations are not limited to economics and historical reconciliation. Officials also discussed tourism, cultural exchanges, people-to-people contact, and cooperation in international forums, including joint positions on the Rohingya refugee crisis.

Recent diplomatic exchanges have also emphasized the need for trade-specific delegations and increased collaboration in media and education sectors.

“Such engagements are crucial not only for bilateral understanding but also for broader regional peace,” said Ishrat Jahan, Director General of South Asia Wing at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.