Pakistan has announced that the recent foreign secretary-level meeting with Bangladesh reflected a shared commitment to reviving bilateral relations. According to a press release from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published Friday, both sides acknowledged the importance of connectivity and welcomed proposals to initiate direct maritime links between Karachi and Chattogram, as well as resume direct air travel. Progress on easing travel and visa processes was also noted with satisfaction.

The meeting, held in Dhaka in a cordial atmosphere, marked the sixth bilateral consultation of its kind and the first in 15 years. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin led their respective delegations. Discussions covered a wide range of topics including political, economic, cultural, educational, and strategic cooperation. The two sides emphasized shared historical ties, cultural connections, and the mutual aspirations of their peoples.

The press release also highlighted satisfaction over recent high-level interactions between the two nations in New York, Cairo, Samoa, and Jeddah, which have helped reinvigorate the relationship. Both countries stressed the need to finalize pending agreements, strengthen institutional dialogue, and enhance collaboration in trade, agriculture, education, and connectivity.

Pakistan offered educational opportunities at its agricultural universities, while Bangladesh proposed technical training in fisheries and marine sectors. Bangladesh expressed gratitude for scholarship offers from Pakistani private universities and called for deeper cooperation in the education sector.

Discussions also included potential Memoranda of Understanding in sports, media, and cultural exchange. Both sides supported the revival of SAARC and, while Pakistan reiterated its stance on resolving the Kashmir issue through UN resolutions, both countries condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and the associated human rights violations.