Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to lead her country’s delegation in the first bilateral meeting with Bangladesh in over 15 years.
Amna Baloch landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at noon, arriving via Thai Airways from Islamabad with a layover in Bangkok. She is scheduled to stay at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital during her visit.
According to diplomatic sources, the long-anticipated Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Pakistan will take place on Thursday, April 17, at the State Guest House Padma. Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin will lead the Bangladesh side, while Amna Baloch will head the Pakistani delegation.
A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the meeting aims to reset bilateral ties and discuss a range of diplomatic and regional issues after a prolonged pause in high-level engagement between the two South Asian neighbors.
Following the Foreign Office Call (FOC), the Pakistani Foreign Secretary is expected to pay courtesy calls on Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain.
In a potential diplomatic breakthrough, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also expected to visit Dhaka later this month. If confirmed, this would mark the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister to Bangladesh since 2012.
LND/BG
