Foreign secretaries of Pakistan, Bangladesh hold meeting after 15 years

Meeting between Pakistan and Bangladesh's foreign secretaries started in Dhaka Thursday morning, which marks the first such diplomatic engagement between the two countries after 15 years.

During the talks, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led her delegation, while Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin led Bangladesh's delegation at State Guest House Padma.

Strengthening mutual interests and consideration of bilateral relations were the highlights of the talks.

The Bangladesh side also hosted lunch for Pakistan's foreign secreatary.

Moreover, Amna Baloch also met with Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh Mohammed Tohid Hussain during the talks.

Amna arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a two-day visit to attend the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC).

According to The Daily Star, after the FOC, Amna will also call on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. She will also attend an interaction with the think-tanks and Pakistani diaspora in Dhaka in the evening.

Additionally, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit Bangladesh in the last week of April.

Since the fall of the Awami League-led government on August 5 last year, relations between both the countries have been warming.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Yunus met twice since then: first on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year and later at the D-8 summit in Cairo in December.

Bangladesh has eased visa rules for Pakistani nationals since then and launched direct shipping.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is keen to organise cultural exchange and boost trade, tourism and investment.

"Pakistan sees potential for boosting exports to Bangladesh, especially if their products are price competitive," said Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Iqbal Hussain Khan, who is now in Dhaka for the meeting.