KARACHI: Pakistan and Bangladesh have stepped up defense engagement with a high-level naval visit to Chattogram, the Pakistan military said on Thursday, marking one of the most visible signs of warming ties between the two South Asian neighbors after years of diplomatic distance.

For decades, relations between Islamabad and Dhaka remained tense following the 1971 civil war that split the two countries, with Bangladesh aligning closely with India and maintaining only limited defense cooperation with Pakistan. But that dynamic has shifted since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government earlier this year — a period that saw Dhaka’s ties with New Delhi cool and opened space for renewed political and military outreach with Pakistan.

In this context, Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf’s visit to Bangladesh — and the simultaneous port call of PNS Saif — signals an attempt by both sides to restore working-level coordination and rebuild a relationship long overshadowed by history.

“The next century belongs to the oceans,” Admiral Naveed Ashraf remarked during the visit. “Pakistan must plan today for the ports, trade routes, and maritime industries of tomorrow.”

During the multi-day trip, the naval chief met Bangladesh’s army, navy and air force heads, discussed regional maritime security and professional cooperation, and attended a reception onboard the Pakistani frigate Saif. He also visited the National Defense College and the Bangladesh Naval Academy, appreciating their professional standards and emphasizing the importance of advanced naval education.

While the visit does not represent a formal defense pact, the engagements point to broader strategic recalibration in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean Region. Bangladesh’s armed forces continue longstanding cooperation with India, but the political transition in Dhaka — and the fallout from Sheikh Hasina’s departure to India — have introduced new diplomatic dynamics. Pakistan, meanwhile, has sought to expand military-to-military contacts across the region, particularly in the maritime domain.

The Bay of Bengal and the northern Indian Ocean have gained strategic significance in recent years amid rising competition for sea lanes, energy routes and naval influence. Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have expanded coastal infrastructure and maritime surveillance capacity, making naval diplomacy an increasingly important tool for signalling intent and managing regional relationships.

The Pakistan Navy said the visit aimed to “strengthen bilateral naval ties, foster mutual respect, and advance maritime security cooperation,” projecting the engagement as part of Islamabad’s wider effort to enhance regional connectivity and stability.