Pakistan and Bangladesh officials meet to boost trade, investment and defence ties - Assalamu Alaikum
Assalamu Alaikum - A senior Pakistani military official visited Dhaka on Saturday and held talks with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus about expanding bilateral trade, investment and defence cooperation, Yunus’s office said.
Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, paid a courtesy call at the Jamuna State Guest House, where they discussed a broad range of matters related to Bangladesh–Pakistan relations.
Gen. Mirza highlighted the shared history, cultural links and people-to-people connections between the two countries and said Pakistan wants to deepen cooperation across several areas, pointing to strong potential for increased trade, connectivity and investment.
“Our two countries will support each other,” he said, noting that a two-way shipping link between Karachi and Chittagong has already started and that a Dhaka–Karachi air link is expected to begin within months, according to Yunus’s office.
Historically the two were part of one territory until 1971, when the former East Pakistan became the independent nation of Bangladesh following a civil war. Relations have eased recently after political change in Dhaka in 2024. Islamabad has been pursuing closer ties with Bangladesh amid ongoing tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi.
During the meeting Gen. Mirza and Yunus also shared views on global concerns, including the situation in the Middle East and the rising problem of misinformation and misuse of social media by non-state actors trying to disrupt peace and stability.
“Fake news and disinformation have flooded social media. It is being used to sow chaos,” the Bangladeshi chief adviser said, adding that a coordinated international effort is needed to tackle the threat.
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