New Delhi, April 25: “Unforeseen circumstances” have forced Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to postpone his April 27-28 visit to Bangladesh, thus pushing forward the foreign ministerial-level meeting between the two countries which was to be held after a gap of 13 years.
The two countries had prepared to sign several MoUs in the context of the meeting. Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka on April 17 to attend the Foreign Secretary-level meeting, during which the dates for Dar’s visit were finalised.
While the diplomatic outreach aims to reset historically strained ties, Bangladesh risks engaging with a partner whose economic fragility undermines the potential for meaningful bilateral gains. Islamabad’s economy remains mired in structural weaknesses: chronic debt, low investment, and reliance on consumption-driven growth.
The diplomatic reset between Bangladesh and Pakistan faces significant structural challenges for a variety of reasons.
Bilateral trade currently totals around USD $782 million, heavily favouring Pakistan, as Bangladesh’s exports — mainly jute and pharmaceuticals — face limited demand due to Pakistan’s import restrictions. These include non-tariff barriers and anti-dumping duties on certain Bangladeshi goods like hydrogen peroxide. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh remain substantially higher, mainly consisting of cotton textiles and yarn, underscoring the persistent trade imbalance. (IANS)
