ISLAMABAD: Top Pakistani and Bangladeshi military commanders have stressed the need for an enduring partnership between the two countries to remain “resilient against external influences,” the Pakistani military said on Tuesday, amid a thaw between the two countries since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
In the years since, Bangladeshi leaders, particularly former prime minister Hasina, chose to maintain close ties with India. Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August, witnessing a marked improvement.
Amid the thaw, Lt. Gen. S M Kamr-ul-Hassan, principal staff officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, met Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir in Rawalpindi, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“During their meeting, both held extensive discussions on the evolving security dynamics in the region and explored further avenues for enhancing bilateral military cooperation,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“The COAS and the PSO underscored the importance of a stronger defense relationship, emphasizing that the enduring partnership between the two brotherly nations must remain resilient against external influences.”
On the occasion, the Pakistan army chief reiterated the significance of joint efforts to promote peace and stability in South Asia and the broader region, while ensuring that both nations continue to contribute to regional security through “collaborative defense initiatives,” according to the ISPR.
Lt. Gen. Hassan acknowledged the sacrifices made by Pakistani armed forces in their fight against militancy, noting that their efforts serve as a beacon of “courage and determination.”
Earlier in the day, Pakistan and Bangladesh signed a landmark agreement to establish a joint business council, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said, amid efforts to enhance trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
“The establishment of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Business Council is a milestone for trade relations between the two countries,” FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said after signing the agreement in Dhaka, along with representatives of the Administrative Federation of the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce.
During the visit, the FPCCI chief led a Pakistani business delegation that held meetings with their counterparts in Bangladesh to discuss ways to enhance trade ties. The Trade Corporation of Pakistan also signed a memorandum of understanding for rice export to Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to visit Dhaka in the beginning of February to further consolidate the relations between the two countries.
Pakistan, Bangladesh commanders underscore enduring partnership for resilience against ‘external influences’
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Pakistan, Bangladesh commanders underscore enduring partnership for resilience against ‘external influences’
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war
- Ties between both nations have warmed up since PM Hasina’s ouster due to an uprising in Aug.
Pakistan president to visit Bahrain today to enhance trade, defense, security cooperation
- Asif Ali Zardari to meet Bahrain’s king and crown prince, discuss regional issues of mutual interest, says state media
- Trade volume between Pakistan, Bahrain has increased from $500 million to $1 billion in recent years, says Pakistan’s FO
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to visit Bahrain today, Tuesday, for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two nations in trade, defense and security, state media reported.
Zardari will lead a high-level delegation during his visit to Bahrain from Jan. 13-16, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Monday. The president will hold talks with King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his visit on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
“The visit seeks to reinforce Pakistan’s longstanding cooperation with the brotherly Gulf nation while expanding opportunities for collaboration in trade and economic partnership, defense and security and people-to-people ties,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Bahrain. Islamabad and Manama established diplomatic ties in October 1971 after the Gulf country gained independence.
The trade volume between the two countries in recent years has ranged between $500 million to around $1 billion, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry. Major exports from Pakistan to Bahrain include meat, vegetables, rice, tobacco and textile. Imports from Bahrain, on the other hand, include petroleum products, ferrous wastes and scrape and aluminum.
Pakistan and Bahrain have established a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) at the level of the foreign ministers to discuss trade and economic ties, take decisions mutually and supervise the implementation of these decisions. So far, only two sessions of the JMC have been held, the last in Bahrain in July 2021.
Zardari’s visit also takes place amid increasing economic engagement between the two nations following the Pakistan-Bahrain Investment Summit in May 2025. Both sides signed contracts worth $13 million during the summit.
