Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch left Dhaka on Friday after holding the first Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) since 2010 on Thursday.
This meeting between Baloch and her Bangladesh counterpart Md Jashim Uddin would quickly be followed up with a foreign minister-level meeting early next week. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar’s April 27 visit to Dhaka would be the first by any Pakistani foreign minister in 12 years.
During her two-day busy schedule in Dhaka, Amna Baloch niched out some time for an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune, where she shared a few insights and reflections on strengthening bilateral trade between the two South Asian neighbors and turning Saarc into a functional and effective regional forum.
Dhaka Tribune: What is your impression of Dhaka as a host for the long pending Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-Level Consultations?
Amna Baloch: Let me begin by appreciating the excellent visit arrangements made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and the warm hospitality being extended during my visit. It is a matter of great pleasure to visit the historic city of Dhaka for the Sixth Round of the Foreign Secretary-Level Consultations. The vibrant culture of Dhaka, which reflects the dynamism of the Bangladeshi society, is a befitting backdrop to revive the Consultations after a hiatus of 15 years.
This meeting is not only about diplomacy, but also about rekindling a relationship that has been dormant for over a decade. The decision to hold the talks in Dhaka is both symbolic and forward-looking. It sets the stage for a conversation grounded in mutual respect, while also signaling Pakistan’s intent to approach this new chapter with sincerity and purpose.
This is an opportunity to identify shared priorities, rebuild momentum, and explore areas of cooperation that benefit both countries.
What are some of the high points in the agenda for your meeting with your Bangladesh counterpart?
Amna Baloch: The Consultations were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. I and my very able Bangladeshi counterpart discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explored new avenues to enhance bilateral cooperation. The discussions covered a variety of topics including political relations, trade and commerce, cultural exchanges, people-to-people contacts and connectivity. Regional and international issues of mutual interest were also discussed. Both sides expressed satisfaction that the bilateral relations have been on an upward trajectory during the past few months. Still, there is a huge
untapped potential in a number of fields. In that backdrop, it was agreed to expedite progress in all areas of mutual interest.
This round of Consultations is being held after a lapse of 15 long years. What kinds of impediments held such bilateral engagement back for so long?
Amna Baloch: Notwithstanding the challenges of the past, it is important to focus on the future. There is immense potential for cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh. We share a rich cultural heritage. There are significant opportunities to strengthen our relations across multiple sectors, ranging from trade and investment to regional cooperation and people-to-people contacts. With a spirit of friendship and the will to address common challenges, there is no limit to what can be achieved.
It is true that this round of Consultations comes after a significant gap, but what is important is that both sides have shown a clear intent to re-engage. There were a range of factors over the years - political shifts, evolving regional dynamics, and changing national priorities - that may have contributed to the pause in structured dialogue. But rather than dwell on what held us back, both Pakistan and Bangladesh are now focused on what lies ahead.
This renewed engagement reflects a shared recognition that there is value in dialogue, even when our perspectives may differ. The fact that we have resumed consultations after such a long interval is, in itself, a strong message: we are ready to explore new opportunities, address challenges through conversation, and take a more pragmatic approach to our bilateral ties.
So, while the gap is notable, we see this moment as a reset - a chance to build momentum and establish a more regular and constructive pattern of engagement going forward.
Are you hopeful that from now on, such consultations at the Foreign Secretary- and Foreign Minister-levels will take place at regular intervals?
Amna Baloch: Yes, I am quite optimistic that the renewed engagement will pave the way for regular consultations in line with the governing Protocol signed between both the countries in 2002. The continued dialogue is essential to expand relations, build trust and explore new avenues of cooperation. We look forward to sustaining the momentum that the recent high level interactions have generated.
It is expected that the Pakistan DPM and FM is due in Dhaka sometime later this month. Any reflection on that?
Amna Baloch: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, is expected to visit Dhaka soon. Although the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Bangladesh have met on different occasions, this will be a Pakistani foreign minister’s first bilateral visit to Bangladesh since 2012. Evidently, preparations are underway to make this visit a success.
Pakistan views this visit as a historic opportunity to reinforce the fraternal bonds between our two countries and to set the stage for a reinvigorated partnership based on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared prosperity. The most important objective of the visit is to turn a new page in bilateral relations, focusing on what unites us.
Bilateral trade volume between Bangladesh and Pakistan is very low. What steps could the governments take to unleash the untapped potential of bilateral trade and investment?
Amna Baloch: There exists a huge potential to increase the volume of bilateral trade, which has been hovering close to $1 billion for the last several years. The last few months have witnessed many encouraging steps. Direct maritime connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh stands restored, and options for revival of direct air connectivity are being explored. Pursuant to signing of an MoU between the Trading Corporations of Pakistan and its Bangladeshi counterpart in January 2025, Pakistan has supplied 50,000 metric tons of white rice to Bangladesh. The signing of MoU coincided with the visit of a delegation from Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry to Dhaka during which it was decided to establish Joint Business Council. We are also thankful to the Government of Bangladesh for waiving the requirement of 100% physical inspection of cargo containers from Pakistan. I hope that these steps will help expand mutually-beneficial economic and commercial exchanges.
Building on these measures, rejuvenating the forums for government-to-government and business-to-business dialogue would be important. Frequent interaction between the business community of the two countries and exposure to each other’s markets would certainly help realize the true potential of bilateral trade.
There is no doubt that the current volume of bilateral trade - which has hovered around one billion US dollars for the past several years - doesn’t reflect the true potential of our economic relationship. That said, the last few months have brought some very encouraging developments that could lay the groundwork for stronger trade and investment ties.
Direct maritime connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh has been restored, which is a significant logistical step. Efforts are also underway to explore the revival of direct air connectivity - something that would further ease the movement of goods and people. Earlier this year, the signing of an MoU between the Trading Corporations of Pakistan and Bangladesh led to the successful supply of 50,000 metric tons of white rice. This cooperation coincided with a visit by a delegation from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry to Dhaka, during which the decision to establish a Joint Business Council was taken - a promising move for structured private sector engagement.
We also appreciate the recent decision by the Government of Bangladesh to waive the requirement of 100% physical inspection of cargo containers from Pakistan - a positive gesture that will help ease trade flow.
Building on these steps, what’s now important is to rejuvenate both government-to-government and business-to-business forums. Frequent interaction between the business communities, trade fairs, and exposure to each other’s markets will go a long way in translating potential into real growth.
With the right momentum, these efforts can help expand mutually beneficial commercial ties and contribute to broader regional economic stability.
Prof Yunus has been touting the revival of the lost pride of Saarc as a regional mechanism in South Asia. What role could Pakistan play to make Saarc an active regional body like ASEAN?
Amna Baloch: In fact, Saarc is a Bangladeshi initiative. It has great potential to promote regional cooperation. Pakistan fully supports Hon’ble Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus’ vision to rejuvenate Saarc.
A functional and effective Saarc, free from artificial impediments, can be a powerful engine for economic growth, trade expansion, and sustainable development in the region. However, for this vision to materialize, all member states must demonstrate the political will to prioritize regional cooperation over discord.
Professor Yunus’s call to revive Saarc as a meaningful regional platform resonates with many of us who believe in the power of regional cooperation. Pakistan has always supported Saarc’s core vision - of fostering mutual trust, regional connectivity, and shared prosperity across South Asia.
We believe Saarc still holds untapped potential, and Pakistan is ready to contribute toward re-energizing it. That means staying engaged, keeping channels of communication open, and promoting practical cooperation in areas where consensus is possible - such as trade, climate resilience, health, and people-to-people exchanges.
Of course, for Saarc to function effectively, it requires political will from all member states. But Pakistan remains committed to playing a constructive role and believes that even incremental progress through Saarc can help build the kind of trust that makes deeper regional integration possible - much like we have seen with ASEAN over time
