The Crime Desk: Bangladesh and Pakistan are going to hold a ‘Foreign Office Consultative’ (FOC) meeting at the Foreign Secretary level after almost a decade and a half.
For this purpose, the country’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is coming to Dhaka on Thursday (April 16) to lead her country’s delegation.
According to Foreign Ministry sources, the meeting will be held at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka. The Bangladesh side will be led by Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin.
The last FOC between Bangladesh and Pakistan was held in 2010.
A senior official of the ministry said that both sides are expected to discuss all issues of bilateral interest. Although no specific agenda has been set, it is believed that all issues of mutual interest will come up for discussion during the talks.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan is currently in Dhaka to attend the meeting. “Islamabad is particularly keen on increasing trade relations with Dhaka,” he said.
“Pakistan is particularly keen on increasing its exports to Bangladesh, especially considering the competitive prices of its products. With cotton as a major commodity, Pakistan is keen on supplying cotton,” the High Commissioner said.
“Since Pakistan acts as a gateway for goods from Afghanistan and Iran, there is an opportunity for Bangladesh to explore imports through Pakistan if transportation costs are low,” the High Commissioner said.
Regarding direct air connectivity, Iqbal Hussain said, “In addition to Fly Jinnah, another Pakistani private airline based in Sialkot, Air Sial, has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh to operate flights to Dhaka.”
“Fly Jinnah is currently waiting to start operations in Dhaka. Air Sial is expected to start direct flights within two months of receiving approval.”
“The direct air connectivity is expected to boost tourism and enhance people-to-people contact between the two countries,” added Iqbal Hussain Khan.
Asked about the unresolved historical issues between the two countries, the High Commissioner said, “Such issues exist in bilateral relations all over the world, but they should not hinder the current relations or economic cooperation.”
While in Dhaka, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is expected to pay a courtesy call on Principal Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Towhid Hossain after the FOC on Thursday.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Dhaka later this month. This will be the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since 2012.
