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Dhaka, Islamabad Discuss Resuming Foreign Secretary-Level Talks
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan called on the Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka today. Photo: MoFA
Dhaka and Islamabad today engaged in talks regarding the resumption of Foreign Secretary-Level Consultations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the last of which was held in 2010. They also discussed the Joint Economic Commission, which last convened in 2005.
The discussions took place during a meeting between the visiting Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, according to a statement from the Ministry.
Siddiqui presented a letter from Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister addressed to Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, which he handed over to the Foreign Secretary during the meeting.
Both sides reflected on the productive discussions held between the Bangladesh Chief Adviser and Pakistan Prime Minister during their meetings in Cairo on the sidelines of the D-8 Summit in December 2024 and in New York during the 79th UNGA in September 2024. They also recalled the meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa, in October 2024.
The meeting also focused on deepening bilateral economic ties, particularly addressing the trade imbalance. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the recent visits of Pakistani trade delegations to Bangladesh and emphasized the importance of Bangladesh sending product-specific trade delegations to Pakistan.
Discussions also included boosting cooperation in tourism, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, cultural collaboration, addressing the plight of forcibly displaced Rohingyas, and strengthening cooperation in international forums.
The importance of regional and multilateral collaboration through organizations like SAARC, OIC, and D-8 was also underscored.
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui was accompanied by Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof.