Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to visit Bangladesh in February

He describes Bangladesh visit as important, calls it ‘brotherly country’

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit Bangladesh in February - a move hailed as a groundbreaking development by a Karachi-based daily.

“This is going to be the first visit by any Pakistani foreign minister since 2012,” The Express Tribune said.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dar confirmed the visit, which he said was at the invitation of the chief advisor.

“Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus invited me to visit Dhaka during my trip to Cairo,” he said.

The foreign minister added that Yunus also accepted Pakistan's invitation to travel to Islamabad at mutually agreed dates.

Dar also discussed Pakistan’s foreign policy events, diplomatic achievements, and future challenges during the briefing held in Islamabad.

He termed Bangladesh as "brotherly country", saying Pakistan would extend all possible help to Dhaka.

Bangladesh won its independence from oppressive Pakistani rule after a bloody nine-month war in 1971.

The last Pakistani foreign minister to visit Bangladesh was Hina Rabbani Khar, who came to Dhaka in 2012 for the D-8 summit at the invitation of the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Express Tribune said relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh remained strained during the 15-year term of Hasina.

“The Awami League leader never reciprocated several attempts by Pakistan to mend ties as she was aligned with India.

“However, after her ouster in August last year following the bloody uprising, the relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh has seen a considerable improvement.

“There have been a number of exchanges between the two countries at the highest level.”

Bangladesh has already lifted several restrictions on the import and export of goods, and the two countries started direct trade through the sea.