The Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) was led by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. The meeting covered a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional and global issues, with a strong focus on trade, defence and unresolved historical matters stemming from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. 

This meeting, the sixth round of such consultations since their inception, was the first since 2010. It reflected a renewed diplomatic engagement following the ouster of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. 

Historical Unresolved Issues:

Bangladesh raised “historically unresolved issues” and demanded a public apology from Pakistan over the 1971 atrocities and also asked Islamabad to pay USD 4.3 billion, representing Bangladesh’s share of pre-1971 combined assets when East Pakistan separated from West Pakistan.

Source: apnews

Trade and Economic Cooperation:

Both sides prioritised enhancing trade ties, with Bangladesh seeking better market access for its products in Pakistan. Pakistan expressed interest in exporting textiles, cotton, sugar, rice and wheat, leveraging competitive pricing. Bangladesh encouraged Pakistani investment in its jute and textile sectors, promoting facilities and incentives for foreign investors.

Defence and Military Cooperation:

Discussions included potential defence cooperation, such as joint military exercises, procurement of Chinese-made fighter jets and training mechanisms. A Bangladeshi military delegation, led by Lt. Gen. SM Kamrul Hasan, visited Rawalpindi in January 2025, meeting Pakistani military chiefs, signaling deepening military dialogue. 

Connectivity and People-to-People Contacts:

Progress was noted in simplifying visa processes, initiating direct cargo shipping between Karachi and Chattogram ports and resuming air connectivity. Cooperation in higher education, culture, scientific research and technology transfer was identified as having vast untapped potential. The two sides hoped that direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan would be launched soon.