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ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday said it is strategically possible for Dhaka to join a regional grouping with Pakistan without India, though such an arrangement would be difficult for Nepal or Bhutan, according to Bangladeshi media. &ldquo;It is possible for us strategically &hellip; but it is not possible for Nepal or Bhutan to form a grouping with Pakistan excluding India,&rdquo; he told reporters at the foreign ministry, according to state-run BSS News reported. His comments followed Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar&rsquo;s recent statement at the Islamabad Conclave that a new trilateral initiative involving Bangladesh, China and Pakistan had begun and could expand to other countries.&nbsp;Touhid said Dar &ldquo;has said something, and perhaps at some point this could see some progress,&rdquo; noting that he had only seen the information through the media. Improving Pakistan-Bangladesh tiesThe remarks come amid warming relations between Islamabad and Dhaka following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.&nbsp; In August this year, Foreign Minister Dar visited Bangladesh for the first time in 13 years. In September,&nbsp;Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh&rsquo;s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the D-8 Summit, signaling a reset in ties. Bilateral trade also rose by about 20 percent in FY2024-25, from nearly $712 million to $865 million. Direct sea trade resumed for the first time in more than 50 years, and Bangladesh later cleared Pakistan&rsquo;s Fly Jinnah to begin direct Karachi-Dhaka flights. High-level military contacts also restarted, with exploratory talks on defense cooperation. The Yunus-led interim government has adopted a broader foreign policy approach, moving away from the Awami League&rsquo;s India-focused posture. This has created space for pragmatic engagement with Islamabad, though the unresolved legacy of the 1971 Liberation War remains a major hurdle.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain says such an arrangement, however, would be difficult for Nepal or Bhutan.

Bangladesh open to joining regional bloc with Pakistan excluding India

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated the governments and people of all member states on the 40th anniversary of the SAARC Charter, calling for renewed commitment to peace, development and shared prosperity in South Asia.&nbsp;In a message marking the occasion, the prime minister said the day served as a reminder of the region&rsquo;s collective aspiration to work together for stability and progress. He noted that SAARC was founded four decades ago to promote dialogue, strengthen cooperation and build durable ties among regional countries.&nbsp;Sharif said that although regional political dynamics had hindered the organization from fully achieving its founding goals, the SAARC Secretariat continued to play a constructive role by facilitating cooperation and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement among member states.&nbsp;He stressed that economic integration, digital connectivity and people-to-people links had become more important than ever, adding that South Asian nations must work jointly to enhance trade, investment, innovation and cultural exchange.&nbsp;The prime minister warned that the region faced shared challenges, including poverty, climate-induced disasters, food and energy insecurity and public health threats &mdash; issues that transcended borders and required collective action grounded in trust and goodwill.&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s unwavering support for the principles and objectives of the SAARC Charter, Sharif said genuine cooperation based on sovereign equality, mutual respect and positive engagement was essential to unlocking South Asia&rsquo;s vast potential. He urged member states to renew their resolve to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia founded on cooperation, connectivity and the collective well-being of its people.

Foreign Affairs

 The prime minister says the day serves as a reminder of the region’s collective aspiration to work together for stability and progress.

Articles tagged with "SAARC"

Bangladesh open to joining regional bloc with Pakistan excluding India

PM Sharif calls for renewed regional cooperation on SAARC Charter Day