New Delhi/Dhaka, August 24 – India is watching developments in its neighborhood this weekend as Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar begins a three-day visit to Bangladesh, marking the most high-profile Pakistani trip to Dhaka in over a decade.
The visit, initially planned for April but postponed in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, comes at a sensitive time. Dar is seeking to reset Pakistan-Bangladesh ties, but Dhaka has already placed unresolved issues on the table — an apology for the 1971 war, settlement of assets, and the fate of stranded Pakistani citizens.
Bangladesh’s Interim Government’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain told Prothom Alo, “Like with many other countries, we are trying to establish a normal relationship with Pakistan, focusing on trade, investment, and facilitating people’s movement. But while seeking normal ties, the three unresolved issues remain on the table.”
High-Stakes Meetings, Old Wounds
Dar is scheduled to meet Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s Interim Government Muhammad Yunus, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and other political leaders. Of particular concern to New Delhi is his planned engagement with leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, a hardline Islamist group banned in the past for alleged terror links and known for its anti-India stance.
Dhaka’s current administration under Yunus has been cautiously fostering ties with Islamabad despite the brutal history of 1971, when Pakistani forces carried out atrocities during Bangladesh’s liberation struggle.
Yunus had earlier met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of a global conference in Egypt in December 2024. Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation, with Yunus emphasizing the need to “overcome barriers” that froze ties for years. In April 2025, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch also visited Dhaka, marking the first high-level consultations in 15 years.
Deepening Engagement
Dar’s trip follows visits by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in July and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan last week, signaling Islamabad’s renewed diplomatic push.
Bangladesh and Pakistan have agreed to:
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Visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
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Revive the Joint Economic Commission (JEC), last convened in 2005.
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Launch a new Trade and Investment Commission to expand business cooperation.
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Expand connectivity with direct cargo shipping routes already operational and new direct flights planned via Pakistani carriers Fly Jinnah and Air Sial.
India’s Uneasy Position
For India, these moves are troubling as New Delhi’s relationship with Dhaka has soured since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government last year.
Earlier this month, Bangladesh’s interim administration accused Awami League members of conducting anti-Bangladesh activities from Indian soil. India strongly denied the allegations. The Ministry of External Affairs said:
“The Government of India is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India. The Government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil. The statement by the Interim Government of Bangladesh is misplaced.”
The sharp exchange underscores how India-Bangladesh relations, once described as a “golden chapter” under Sheikh Hasina, are now under strain just as Dhaka and Islamabad cautiously re-engage.
The Larger Picture
For Bangladesh, Pakistan offers trade opportunities and an expanded diplomatic space beyond its immediate neighborhood. For Pakistan, warming ties with Dhaka help counter its international isolation and provide a potential ally in South Asia.
But the shadow of 1971 still looms large. Until Islamabad directly addresses Dhaka’s demand for an apology, mistrust will linger. For India, the challenge is balancing its strategic partnership with Bangladesh while keeping a close watch on Dhaka’s growing comfort with Islamabad.