Pakistan, Bangladesh hold first FOC talks in 15 years

DHAKA: The bilateral Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Pakistan and Bangladesh resumed after 15 years of diplomatic break in a bid to normalise mutual diplomatic relations, the Bangladeshi media reported.

Foreign Secretary, Md Jashim Uddin, led the Bangladesh side, while his Pakistani counterpart, Amna Baloch, headed Islamabad’s delegation in the consultative meeting at the State Guest House Padma.

Moreover, Amna Baloch also met with Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammed Tohid Hussain during the talks. Apart from that, a lunch was also hosted by the host country in honor of Pakistan’s foreign secretary.

Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday on a two-day visit and was welcomed by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Ishrat Jahan.

Earlier, the Dhaka-based newspaper, Dhaka Tribune, reported that both Foreign Offices are set to hold a consultative meeting in Dhaka today (Thursday) — the first such meeting since 2010.

Another media outlet, The Daily Star, quoting diplomatic sources, reported that Amna will also call on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. She will also attend an interaction with the think-tanks and Pakistani diaspora in Dhaka in the evening.

Additionally, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, is also scheduled to visit Bangladesh later this month, the report added.

The meeting is expected to discuss matters of mutual interest, the regional situation, and the promotion of bilateral cooperation.

The Bangladeshi media, citing Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, reported that Ishaq Dar’s visit will feature discussions on all issues of mutual interest. Dar’s trip will mark the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since 2012.