Will frosty Pakistan-Bangladesh ties finally warm up?

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Dhaka, Bangladesh, this week, marking the first by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since Hina Rabbani Khar travelled there in 2012 for a brief five-hour visit. During the two-day trip, Dar met with senior officials—including interim leader Muhammad Yunus—and leaders of several political parties. 

The Foreign Policy publication shed light on the trip's significance, which reflects a notable resurgence in bilateral relations following longtime Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation under pressure in August 2024. 

Hasina maintained deep ties with New Delhi throughout her tenure, and her family enjoyed a special rapport with India for decades. Conversely, Bangladesh’s relations with Pakistan remained largely frozen during Hasina’s years in office, which split over two terms: from 1996 to 2001 and then again from 2009 to 2024.

Over the past year, Yunus and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have held several meetings, direct trade has resumed for the first time since Bangladesh’s independence, and trilateral diplomacy with China has taken place. Dar’s visit further strengthened people-to-people links, resulting in agreements on academic exchanges and visa facilitation, along with plans to expand direct air connections.

These swift shifts are strategically significant for the region and likely concern Indian officials. Hasina’s departure was a setback for New Delhi, creating space for Islamist actors perceived as counter to India’s interests. Bangladesh’s growing closeness to Pakistan now challenges India amid heightened tensions with Islamabad.

However, expectations for a full Bangladesh-Pakistan reset should remain measured. Both nations prioritize commercial cooperation, yet their economic policies rely heavily on textile and garment exports, positioning them as natural competitors.

Bangladesh is also set to hold elections in February, and the next government may seek to repair ties with India. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is favored to win and has called for improved relations with New Delhi.

Historic grievances continue to complicate bilateral ties, including the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence and Pakistan’s role in it. Another sensitive issue is Pakistan’s relationship with Bangladesh’s most prominent Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, which supported Pakistan in 1971. Though the party has apologized, the matter remains highly delicate.

By Nazrin Sadigova