Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan and Bangladesh resumed high-level bilateral talks after a 15-year hiatus, as Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka for a series of meetings with her Bangladeshi counterpart, Md Jashim Uddin. The foreign secretary-level dialogue, under the framework of the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC), is being held at the Padma State Guest House in the Bangladeshi capital, marking a critical moment in the shifting dynamics of South Asian diplomacy. The timing of the visit is especially notable, as it comes amid growing tensions between India and Bangladesh. Since the formation of Bangladesh’s interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, Dhaka has increasingly leaned toward China and opened diplomatic space for Pakistan, reversing a decade-long strategic alignment with India under the previous Sheikh Hasina-led administration.
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Amna Baloch will hold talks not only with Jashim Uddin but also with key figures in the interim government, including Foreign Affairs Advisor Md Touhid Hussain and Mr. Yunus himself. Sources suggest that the discussions will cover a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade, connectivity, and cultural exchange. The meetings are also expected to lay the groundwork for Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar‘s upcoming visit to Dhaka later this month, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in over a decade. The last such high-level meeting took place in Islamabad in 2010. Since then, Pakistan’s influence in Dhaka diminished significantly, especially during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, which saw enhanced cooperation between India and Bangladesh. However, the political shift in Dhaka has opened new doors for Pakistan, which appears eager to reassert its presence in Bangladesh’s strategic sphere.
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India, which played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971, is closely monitoring the developments. Analysts note that Pakistan’s re-engagement with Dhaka could further complicate regional geopolitics, particularly as anti-India rhetoric has gained traction within certain factions in Bangladesh. Many observers believe Pakistan is actively supporting such voices in order to expand its influence. Recently, Sheikh Hasina has openly criticized the interim administration, accusing it of erasing Bangladesh’s history and undermining the contributions of the Awami League and the Mukti Joddhas (freedom fighters). Speaking to her supporters, she condemned the targeting of memorials and the destruction of historical legacies. “If you play with fire, it will burn you too,” she warned.
Another symbolic moment came last December when Dhaka University lifted a longstanding ban on admitting Pakistani students, a ban initially imposed in 2015 to demand Pakistan’s apology for the atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War. Though Pakistan has yet to issue a formal apology, the move signals a thaw in relations. Officials from both countries have confirmed that the FOC talks will address all pending bilateral issues and explore areas of future cooperation. With cultural exchanges, relaxed visa norms, and direct air connectivity also on the agenda, the meeting signifies a potential recalibration of regional alliances. As Pakistan and Bangladesh rekindle diplomatic ties, India remains watchful, aware that the evolving situation in Dhaka could alter the delicate balance of power in South Asia.
