For the first time in 15 years, a bilateral meeting at the secretary level took place between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dhaka on April 17. The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, and Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Mohammad Jashim Uddin.

Following the meeting, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on its website on April 18, highlighting that the discussions were conducted in a cordial atmosphere. The statement emphasized that both countries focused on revitalizing their bilateral relations.

The Pakistani statement detailed that the two delegations discussed a range of topics, including political, economic, cultural, educational, and strategic cooperation. Key points included the expeditious resolution of unresolved treaties, enhancing cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, and transportation, as well as regularizing institutional dialogues between the two countries.

Pakistan also proposed to increase educational cooperation with Bangladesh through its agricultural universities, while Bangladesh expressed interest in providing technical training in fisheries and marine sciences.

In addition, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the possibility of establishing direct communication between the ports of Karachi and Chattogram, starting flights between the two countries, and simplifying visa and travel procedures. The revitalization of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and the potential for Pakistani artists to perform in Bangladesh were also discussed.

The statement further noted that during the talks, both sides took a shared position in condemning the brutalities of Israel in Gaza and emphasized the rights of the Kashmiri people.

During her visit to Dhaka, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary also had courtesy meetings with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and Foreign Minister, Touhid Hossain, as per the statement.

The statement concluded by mentioning that the next round of Bangladesh-Pakistan bilateral discussions would take place in Islamabad in 2026. Both countries view this meeting as a positive step toward strengthening bilateral ties.