ISLAMABAD: The Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad said on Wednesday Dhaka had not stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, following media reports of a fresh diplomatic spat between the two countries over the pending visa extension application of a Bangladeshi diplomat.
Media reported this week that the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad had stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis in the last one week to protest the visa application of a Bangladeshi diplomat not getting clearance from the Pakistan government for the last four months.
According to The Daily Star newspaper, Muhammad Iqbal Hossain, Counsellor (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, had submitted a visa extension application to Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in January, which was subsequently sent to the Pakistani Interior Ministry. The application has still not been cleared, the newspaper reported.
“Bangladesh has not stopped visas to Pakistani nationals,” the Bangladesh high commission told Arab News in a written response to questions. “There has been no visa officer at Bangladesh Mission in Islamabad since November 2018. Counsellor (Press) was doing additional duty of visa officer on temporary basis.”
Due to a shortage of staff at the Islamabad office, the issuance of visas had become particularly difficult over the last one week, the high commission said.
“Now under order transfer to Dhaka, Counsellor (Press) is leaving Islamabad soon and passing preparation time,” the embassy’s statement said. “Issuance of visa has become extremely difficult due to absence of any officer at the visa section of Islamabad Mission.”
“Bangladesh Mission in Karachi continues to issue visas,” the embassy added.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen also told reporters on Tuesday Bangladesh had not halted visas for Pakistanis.
“We have not stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, but delays could happen in some cases which are common worldwide,” he said during a press conference.
Momen said the High Commission in Islamabad was going through staff shortage issues, which were affecting visa processing, adding that Pakistani authorities were delaying issuing a visa for Bangladesh’s newly appointed visa councilor in Islamabad.
East Pakistan broke away to become independent Bangladesh after a war between India and Pakistan in 1971. About three million people were killed and ties between Dhaka and Islamabad have been strained since.
Relations became particularly tense in 2013 after Dhaka executed two opposition leaders for war crimes committed during the 1971 war to break away from Pakistan. Islamabad maintains the trials were flawed.
No block on visas for Pakistanis, says Dhaka high commission
No block on visas for Pakistanis, says Dhaka high commission
- Says shortage of staff at embassy’s visa section made issuing visas “extremely difficult” in the last week
- Bangladesh Mission in Karachi continues to issue visas, high commission adds
Pakistan saw 73% increase in combat-related deaths in 2025— think tank
- Pakistan reported 3,387 deaths thus year, among them 2,115 militants and 664 security forces personnel, says think tank
- Civilian deaths increased by 24% to 580 in 2025, compared to 468 in 2024, as Pakistan saw 1,063 militant attacks in 2025
ISLAMABAD: Combat-related deaths in Pakistan this year increased by 73%, with both security forces and militants suffering casualties in large numbers, a report published by an Islamabad-based think tank said on Sunday.
As per statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), combat-related deaths in 2025 rose 73% to 3,387, compared with 1,950 in 2024. These deaths included 2,115 militants, 664 security forces personnel, 580 civilians and 28 members of pro-government peace committees (combatants), the think tank said in a press release.
“Militants accounted for about 62% of total combat-related deaths, and their 2,115 fatalities represented the highest annual militant death toll since 2015, when 2,322 militants were killed,” PICSS said.
Compared to last year, militant deaths recorded a steep increase by 122% as the PICSS reported that 951 militants had been killed in 2024.
The think tank, however, said this year was also particularly bloody for Pakistani security forces. PICSS recorded 664 security personnel deaths in 2025, a 26% rise from 528 in 2024, and the highest annual figure since 2011, when 677 security forces personnel lost their lives.
Civilian deaths also increased by 24% to 580 in 2025, compared with 468 in 2024, marking the highest annual civilian toll since 2015, when 642 civilians were killed.
As per the PICSS report, at least 1,063 militant attacks took place in 2025, a 17% increase compared with 908 in 2024 and the highest annual total since 2014, when 1,609 militant attacks were recorded.
The report also noted a 53 percent increase in suicide attacks this year, with 26 such incidents reported in 2025 compared with 17 in 2024.
“PICSS noted an expanding trend in the use of small drones, including quadcopters, with 33 such incidents recorded during 2025, alongside increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles by security forces,” the report said.
The report noted an 83% rise in arrests of suspected militants, with 497 arrested in 2025 compared to 272 in 2024.
This 2025 figure is the highest annual total of suspected militants arrested since 2017, when 1,781 militants were either arrested or laid down their weapons.
“PICSS noted that most violence remained concentrated in Pashtun-majority districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the tribal districts (erstwhile FATA), and in Balochistan,” it said.
Pakistan has been grappling with a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both bordering Afghanistan, this year.
Islamabad blames Afghanistan for providing sanctuaries to militants it alleges use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the charges.
