Pakistan, Bangladesh agree to relax visa rules
In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties, Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed in principle to allow visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
The breakthrough was achieved during a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh's Home Minister Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka on Wednesday. Naqvi, who is also head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is in Dhaka to attend the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
On the sidelines, he held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart as part of ongoing efforts by the two sides to reset their ties.
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen a positive turnaround since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina Wajid government in August 2023.
Following the end of 15-year Awami League rule, Pakistan and Bangladesh stepped up efforts to restore their bilateral ties.
There have been increased bilateral exchanges between the two sides. The visit of Naqvi was the latest example of those increased interactions.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also supposed to visit Dhaka in late April but tensions between Pakistan and India led to the delay in the landmark trip.
The decision by the two sides to allow visa free entry to those who hold diplomatic and official passports is seen as significant step.
During the Hasina government, Pakistani diplomat had to face increase scrutiny and surveillance. Pakistani exports to Dhaka also faced non tarrif barriers. But those restrictions have been lifted by the interim Bangladesh government.
A statement issued here by the interior ministry said, the Bangladeshi Home Minister extended a warm welcome to his Pakistani counterpart, who was presented with a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Describing the visit as "of great significance for strengthening bilateral relations," Chowdhury thanked Minister Naqvi for offering training opportunities for Bangladeshi police officers.
During the talks, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in internal security, police training, counter-narcotics, anti-human trafficking, and counter-terrorism efforts. Exchange programs between police academies of the two countries were also discussed.
It was decided to establish a joint committee to further boost bilateral cooperation, which will be headed by Pakistan's Federal Secretary for Interior, Khurram Agha. Additionally, a high-level Bangladeshi delegation will soon visit the National Police Academy in Islamabad.
The meeting was attended by Bangladesh's State Minister for Home Affairs Khuda Bakhsh, Secretary for Home Affairs Nasim Al-Ghani, Additional Secretary Security Division Shamim Khan, Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires Muhammad Wasif, Political Counsellor Kamran Dehingal, and other senior officials.
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