Islamabad, August 15, 2025 — In a significant diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a courtesy call with Bangladesh’s High Commissioner, Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan, in Islamabad, lauding the revival of bilateral mechanisms and urging both nations to sustain this newfound diplomatic momentum .
Renewed Engagement Amid Shifting Geopolitics
The meeting unfolds against the backdrop of seismic shifts in South Asian geopolitics. Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024—and her subsequent flight to India—Bangladesh’s relations with New Delhi have frayed. This opening has allowed Pakistan and Bangladesh, once united as a single country until the bloody 1971 war, to begin thawing decades of frosty ties .
Focus on Institutional Revival
Shehbaz underscored his satisfaction with the reactivation of institutional frameworks that had long lain dormant. According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, he “expressed satisfaction at the revival of various bilateral mechanisms between the two sides” and emphasized that maintaining this momentum was crucial to advancing bilateral ties .
Building on Diplomatic Foundations
Reflecting on prior diplomatic exchanges, Shehbaz revisited his “warm and productive” interactions with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus, particularly their conversation on the sidelines of the D-8 Summit in Cairo last December . He reaffirmed Pakistan’s eagerness to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres, with a focus on trade and people-to-people contacts .
Bangladesh’s Perspective and Commitments
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High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan briefed the Prime Minister on ongoing efforts to enhance reciprocal connectivity—streamlining travel, trade, and communications. He expressed eagerness to collectively push forward and “further strengthen the historic bonds of friendship” between the two nations .
Confidence in a Bright Chapter Ahead
PM Shehbaz extended his personal wishes to the envoy for success in his mission, expressing confidence that his tenure would usher in more positive developments in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations .
Context: The Broader Thaw
Analysts and observers widely view this outreach as part of an unprecedented effort to rebuild ties more than half a century after Bangladesh’s independence—during which relations were often defined by mistrust and overshadowed by India’s regional dominance .
Indeed, earlier this year, high-level diplomatic talks resumed for the first time in 15 years, signaling a strategic thaw. These discussions encompassed military cooperation, maritime exercises, direct trade, eased visa procedures, and Bangladesh’s demand for a formal apology and reparations for the 1971 war—but with both sides expressing a willingness to move past historical hurdles in favor of future collaboration