Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed on Wednesday in principle to grant the entry without visa to the headlines of diplomatic and official passports, along with a promise of a stronger security cooperation.
The two countries were once a nation, but were divided after a bloody civil war, which saw the territory previously referred to as “Eastern Pakistan” that separated to form the independent nation of Bangladesh. In the years elapsed since the division between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the leaders of Dhaka, especially the regime expelled from Sheikh Hasina, firmly remained in the Indian camp, preferring to maintain close ties with New Delhi and keep Islamabad along the arm.
However, since a popular uprising that saw the Hasina government collapsed in August last year, with the prime minister fleeing his former ally of India, there has been a thaw in the ties between the two capitals, with commercial and bilateral relations seeing a marked improvement.
In May, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan, said the visa regime between Pakistan and Bangladesh was being relieved for the business community to encourage economic growth in the region.
Today’s development occurred during a visit to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Bangladesh, where he met with Interior Minister, the retired Lieutenant Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka.
Naqvi was presented an honor guard before the two parties began the discussions.
During the meeting, the two ministers made broad conversations about bilateral issues and matters of mutual interest, with a particular approach in strengthening cooperation in internal security and the application of the law.
“Significant progress at the entrance without visa for diplomatic and official passports during the meeting. Pakistan and Bangladesh make a decision to provide an entry center without visa for diplomatic and official passports,” said a statement from the Ministry of Interior.
Both parties expressed a strong desire to deepen collaboration in key areas, including anti -terrorism, fight drug trafficking and prevent human smuggling.
The ministers also discussed the plans to exchange training programs between police academies, with the aim of improving professional capacity and technical experience.
Chowdhury thanked Naqvi for offering support in police training and described the visit as an “important milestone” in the progress of ties between the two countries.
“I welcome my brother all my heart upon arrival in Dhaka. Your visit is of great importance for the promotion of Pakistan-Bangladesh’s relationships,” he said.
To monitor the decisions taken during the meeting, both parties agreed to form a joint committee with Interior Secretary Khurram Agha leading the Pakistani side in this coordination effort.
The Committee will supervise the implementation of agreed initiatives and explore more roads for cooperation.
As part of the growing association, a high -level Bangladesh delegation is expected to visit Islamabad soon to study the Safe City project and tour the National Police Academy.
