Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister begins visit to Bangladesh amid tensions in bilateral relations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar began a historic visit to Bangladesh on Saturday, the highest-level Pakistani visit to Dhaka since 2012, which officials described as a significant step towards reviving bilateral ties.

The Foreign Office hailed the visit as a milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations and stressed Islamabad’s renewed commitment to regional cooperation.

During his stay, Dar will meet Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, and other senior officials. Several agreements are expected to be signed on Sunday, focusing on trade and economic cooperation.

The visit comes at a sensitive time in South Asian politics. Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi deteriorated after a popular uprising in August 2024 that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who later fled to India. 

Analysts note that India, already unresolved after a brief four-day standoff with Pakistan in May, is closely watching developments. “Hasina’s ouster was a strategic setback for India, and the improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan are a result of her ouster,” said Thomas Kane of the International Crisis Group.

Pakistan and Bangladesh have recently deepened ties, opening up maritime trade last year and expanding government-to-government trade in February. Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan agreed to set up a joint commission with Dhaka for trade and investment. On Friday, senior military commanders from the two countries met in Pakistan, signaling a further thaw in ties.

Officials say the agreements signed during Dar’s visit will lay the foundation for broader cooperation, marking a turning point in relations between the two countries after more than a decade of political estrangement.