Overview

• Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar concluded a two-day visit to Dhaka, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister since 2012, as both governments seek a reset in ties.
• Bangladesh raised an official apology for 1971 atrocities, pre‑independence asset claims, and repatriation of stranded Pakistanis; Dar said those issues were settled in 1974 and during Pervez Musharraf’s visit, a view Dhaka rejected.
• One agreement and five MoUs were signed, including a visa waiver for diplomatic and official passports, cultural exchange, foreign service academy cooperation, a joint trade and investment group, state news agency collaboration, and think‑tank ties.
• Officials signaled further steps under consideration on trade and connectivity, including visa facilitation and potential direct Dhaka–Karachi flights, alongside requests for broader market access under SAFTA and discussions on possible energy exports to Bangladesh.
• Dar met interim officials and opposition and Islamist party leaders, including BNP, Jamaat‑e‑Islami and the NCP, as both sides pledged to continue talks to expand economic links despite the unresolved 1971 dispute.