Pakistan’s minister of foreign affairs flew to Bangladesh yesterday, as the nations, once bitter enemies after they split in 1971, seek to rebuild ties.
Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar is the most senior Pakistani official to visit Dhaka since 2012, with Islamabad calling it a “significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.”
The two nations are today expected to sign several agreements, including on trade.
Photo: AP
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Dar would meet with Bangladeshi interim leader Muhammad Yunus.
Pakistan and Bangladesh began sea trade last year, expanding government-to-government commerce in February.
Pakistani Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held talks on Thursday in Dhaka, where he agreed to set up joint commissions to boost trade and investment.
On Friday, top military commanders from both nations met in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s military was accused of atrocities during the 1971 war, when East Pakistan broke away to form Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands were killed and many in Dhaka still demand Islamabad apologize for the killings.
After 1971, Bangladesh leaned heavily on India, but Bangladesh’s interim government is furious that India took former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina in — where she remains and continues to refuse to attend her trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity.
“The toppling of Hasina was a strategic setback for India, and the improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan are a consequence of her ouster,” International Crisis Group senior consultant Thomas Kean said.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off Yilan at 11:05pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter was located at sea, about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 72.8km, CWA data showed There were no immediate reports of damage. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Yilan County area on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. It measured 4 in other parts of eastern, northern and central Taiwan as well as Tainan, and 3 in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, and 2 in Lienchiang and Penghu counties and 1
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Taiwan is gearing up to celebrate the New Year at events across the country, headlined by the annual countdown and Taipei 101 fireworks display at midnight. Many of the events are to be livesteamed online. See below for lineups and links: Taipei Taipei’s New Year’s Party 2026 is to begin at 7pm and run until 1am, with the theme “Sailing to the Future.” South Korean girl group KARA is headlining the concert at Taipei City Hall Plaza, with additional performances by Amber An (安心亞), Nick Chou (周湯豪), hip-hop trio Nine One One (玖壹壹), Bii (畢書盡), girl group Genblue (幻藍小熊) and more. The festivities are to
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