ISLAMABAD: A delegation of a Pakistani state-owned defense manufacturer recently met Bangladesh’s army chief to discuss defense cooperation, the Bangladesh army said as the two countries move closer amid a thaw in relations.
A delegation led by Lt. Gen. Shakir Ullah Khattak, chairman of the Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), called on Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zamanat at the Army Headquarters in Dhaka on Sunday.
The HIT was established in early 1970s to rebuild Pakistan’s existing tanks. Since then, it has evolved into a large military industrial base and is currently involved in manufacturing and rebuilding hi-tech equipment such as tanks, armored personnel carriers (APCs), guns and other security-related equipment. It presently comprises six production units, an in-house development and component manufacturing facility, and a research and development center.
“In addition to exchanging mutual greetings, they discussed various prospects for defense cooperation between the two countries,” the Bangladesh Army said on social media platform X.
Lt. Gen. Khattak’s visit follows an Oct. 28 meeting between a delegation led by Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, who also met the Bangladesh army chief in Dhaka. The two sides had discussed enhancing military cooperation through joint training programs, seminars and visits, the Bangladesh army said.
Pakistan and Bangladesh used to be 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.
Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since the fall of the administration of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was widely viewed as close to India and critical of Pakistan, following a student-led uprising in August 2024.
Islamabad has attempted to forge closer ties with Bangladesh in recent months as relations remain frosty between Dhaka and New Delhi over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina after she fled the country.
