Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will arrive in Dhaka on Saturday (23 August) for a two-day official visit—the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years.

Invited by the Bangladesh government, Dar’s visit on 23–24 August marks a major step toward revitalizing bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations.
High-Level Engagement

During his stay, Dar will hold talks with Principal Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Towhid Hossain. Discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral ties, expanding trade and investment, enhancing regional cooperation, cultural and academic collaboration and key developments in regional and global affairs.

On Sunday (24 August), six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, including visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, formation of a Joint Trade Working Group, a cultural exchange program, cooperation between foreign service academies, collaboration between national news agencies (BSS and APP) and partnership between think tanks: BIISS (Bangladesh) and IPRI (Pakistan).

The last visit by a Pakistani foreign minister was in 2012, when Hina Rabbani Khar came to Dhaka to invite then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the D-8 Summit.

Dar’s trip was originally scheduled for April 2025, but postponed due to regional tensions with India over Kashmir. The rescheduling reflects both countries’ commitment to advancing diplomacy amid shifting regional dynamics.

Ahead of the visit, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka in April for preparatory talks, underscoring the importance both sides place on this engagement.
Parallel Trade Mission Underway

In a sign of deepening economic outreach, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan is currently on a four-day visit to Bangladesh (20–23 August), engaging with business leaders and government officials to explore new trade and investment avenues.
A New Chapter?
This high-level visit signals a potential thaw and renewed momentum in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations—historically complex but increasingly open to cooperation in trade, culture, and strategic dialogue.
The signing of multiple agreements could pave the way for a more structured and inclusive partnership in the years ahead.