By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday for a two-day official trip, marking the first state visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in over a decade, according to the Foreign Office .

Dar’s visit comes at a time when Islamabad and Dhaka are witnessing renewed engagement following years of strained ties. Relations between the two countries began to improve after last year’s popular uprising in Bangladesh that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Since then, trade and bilateral contacts have gained momentum, setting the stage for higher-level exchanges.

According to an FO press release, Dar’s August 23–24 trip is being undertaken on the invitation of the Bangladeshi government and is being described as a “landmark official visit.”

Upon arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the deputy prime minister was warmly received by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Khan, and senior officials of the Pakistan High Commission.

During his stay, Dar is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with Bangladesh’s interim leadership, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain, and Adviser for Commerce SK Bashir Uddin.

“The discussions will encompass the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the FO statement said, highlighting the importance Islamabad attaches to re-energizing ties with Dhaka.

Officials noted that the visit would also provide an opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration in trade, investment, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. Both countries are also expected to exchange views on regional security and cooperation within multilateral platforms.

Diplomatic observers see Dar’s Dhaka trip as a significant step in repairing historical mistrust and building a forward-looking partnership between the two South Asian neighbors.

The visit follows several months of quiet diplomacy and is expected to pave the way for further high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the near future.

Dar also met with Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party leaders after his arrival in Dhaka.