Dhaka, Islamabad to Resume Foreign Office Consultations After 15-Yr

After nearly a 15-year hiatus, Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to hold Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) at the foreign secretary level in Dhaka on Thursday, signalling a cautious step towards renewing diplomatic engagement between the two South Asian neighbours.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday to lead her country’s delegation at the long-anticipated talks. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin will head the host side during the meeting, which will take place at the state guest house Padma, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday.

“The two sides are expected to discuss the full spectrum of bilateral issues,” the official said, adding that while no fixed agenda has been announced, all areas of mutual interest—ranging from trade to connectivity—are likely to be covered.

“It’s been a long pause since the last consultation in 2010, so the talks are expected to be comprehensive rather than issue-specific,” the official added.

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Md Iqbal Hussain Khan, who is currently in Dhaka for the meeting, told media that Islamabad is particularly keen on expanding trade with Dhaka. “Pakistan sees strong export potential to Bangladesh, especially in price-competitive products such as cotton,” he said.

He also noted that Pakistan could serve as a logistical gateway for Bangladeshi imports from neighbouring Afghanistan and Iran, provided transport costs are kept in check.

On enhancing direct connectivity, the envoy said two Pakistani private airlines—Fly Jinnah and Air Sial—have shown interest in operating flights to Dhaka. While Fly Jinnah is awaiting fleet expansion, Air Sial has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and may begin flights within two months of receiving approval.

“Direct air links will not only boost tourism but also strengthen people-to-people ties,” he observed.

When asked about lingering historical issues between the two countries, the high commissioner said that such matters are common in bilateral relations worldwide and should not obstruct current engagement or economic cooperation.

During her visit, Foreign Secretary Baloch is also expected to pay courtesy calls on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain following the consultations.

Looking ahead, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is likely to visit Dhaka later this month. If confirmed, it will mark the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since 2012.

“We are still working on finalising the date, but the visit is tentatively planned for the last week of April,” the foreign ministry official said.