Pakistan has formally invited Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to undertake an official visit to Islamabad, signaling a cautious but notable effort by the two South Asian nations to rebuild ties decades after the 1971 war.
The invitation was conveyed by Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who represented Islamabad at Rahman’s oath-taking ceremony in Dhaka on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information.
“Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal conveyed a formal invitation from the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date,” the statement said. “The two leaders discussed avenues to reinvigorate bilateral relations and enhance regional cooperation.”
🇵🇰🇧🇩 Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal Meets Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman, Representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Extends Official Invitation to Bangladeshi Prime Minister to Visit Pakistan 🤝
Shared history. Shared aspirations. Shared future.#Pakistan #Bangladesh #Diplomacy… pic.twitter.com/QJw9O5t5Bc
— Ministry of Planning and Development (@PlanComPakistan) February 17, 2026
Relations between Dhaka and Islamabad have historically remained limited, with economic cooperation and high-level engagement lagging behind regional potential. Under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government, Bangladesh maintained close ties with India while diplomatic contact with Pakistan remained minimal.
However, following Hasina’s ouster during the 2024 political upheaval and the 2026 electoral victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Rahman, both sides have moved to normalize relations.
The renewed engagement has already included the relaunch of direct flights, high-level political and military exchanges, technical cooperation initiatives, and expanded business contacts.
During the meeting, both sides discussed expanding cooperation in education, research and digital governance, including the proposed launch of a “Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor” aimed at strengthening academic partnerships and student exchanges.
Islamabad has allocated 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students, with 75 already traveling to Pakistan for higher education, according to the statement. The two countries also explored closer coordination between their national data and statistics institutions.
Improved air connectivity was another key focus, with officials discussing enhanced direct flight operations to boost trade, tourism and business-to-business engagement. Cooperation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and technology-enabled services also featured prominently in talks.
The two countries agreed to strengthen cultural engagement, including plans for joint commemorations next year marking the 150th birth anniversary of philosopher-poet Muhammad Iqbal.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting regional stability, economic cooperation and broader South Asian engagement as Pakistan pursues a geo-economic foreign policy strategy and Bangladesh diversifies its diplomatic partnerships beyond India.
The invitation for Rahman’s official visit marks what officials describe as a new chapter in bilateral ties, though observers note that rebuilding trust after decades of limited engagement will likely require sustained political and economic cooperation.
