6th round of Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral consultations held in Dhaka

Pakistan and Bangladesh held the Sixth Round of Foreign Secretary-Level Bilateral Consultations in Dhaka following a hiatus of fifteen years.

Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and her Bangladeshi counterpart Md Jashim Uddin led the consultations which were held in a cordial atmosphere and reflected a shared resolve to revitalize bilateral engagement.

Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum through regular institutional dialogue, early finalization of pending agreements, and enhanced cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, and connectivity.

Pakistan offered academic opportunities in its agricultural universities, while Bangladesh offered technical training in fisheries and maritime studies. The Bangladeshi side also acknowledged scholarship offers from private universities in Pakistan and underscored the need for deeper cooperation in the education sector.

Recognizing connectivity as a priority, the two sides welcomed the launch of direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong and emphasized the importance of resuming direct air links. They also expressed satisfaction over the progress made in easing travel and visa facilitation.

On multilateral issues, both sides reaffirmed the need to revitalize SAARC in line with its founding principles.

The Foreign Secretary appreciated the vision of the Bangladeshi leadership and expressed hope that the SAARC process would remain insulated from bilateral political considerations.

The Foreign Secretary also briefed the Bangladeshi side on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), emphasizing the need for an early resolution of the dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The Foreign Secretary also held separate meetings with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain. Discussions focused on regional integration, economic linkages and the importance of insulating bilateral ties from external pressures. A shared commitment to a forward-looking partnership emerged.