By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD/DHAKA - Pakistan has sent a senior cabinet minister to Bangladesh to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman, in a move reflecting steadily improving relations between the two South Asian nations.

Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning and Development and a close aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is representing Islamabad at the ceremony in Dhaka.

In a statement posted on X, Iqbal said he also met Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, congratulating him and the Bangladeshi people on what he described as a “historic democratic transition” following recent elections.

Iqbal conveyed Pakistan’s “sincere good wishes” for stability and prosperity under the incoming government and emphasized the need to open a “forward-looking chapter” in bilateral ties.

The minister highlighted what he called positive momentum in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations, citing expanding trade, the revival of direct air links, and increased people-to-people exchanges. Both sides agreed that evolving regional and geopolitical dynamics require greater economic cooperation and connectivity.

Iqbal also invited Yunus to visit Pakistan to deepen collaboration in youth empowerment, innovation, and sustainable development.

He pointed to the launch of the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships under the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor initiative, noting that the first group of Bangladeshi students has already begun studies at Pakistani universities.

Diplomatic timing

The high-level representation comes as Prime Minister Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are on an official visit to Austria and are scheduled to travel onward to Washington for a proposed inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace.

Analysts say Islamabad’s decision to send one of its most senior ministers underscores the importance it attaches to relations with Dhaka, particularly since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.

Pakistan and Bangladesh, once part of a single country before 1971, have experienced fluctuating ties over the decades. However, officials on both sides now speak of transforming shared cultural and historical links into structured economic partnerships and regional cooperation.

“With connectivity, expanded trade, and youth collaboration, our future lies in shaping a stable and prosperous South Asia together,” Iqbal said.

The visit marks one of the clearest signals yet that Islamabad and Dhaka are seeking to reset and strengthen bilateral engagement in the post-Hasina political landscape.