DHAKA: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza met Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Monday. Both sides emphasised stronger bilateral defence and security cooperation. They also discussed the evolving global and regional security landscape.
Gen Mirza highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding fraternal ties with Bangladesh. He stressed mutual respect and sovereign equality as core principles of future cooperation. The two sides expressed optimism about expanding military-to-military engagements.
Visit to Sylhet Military Institution
The CJCSC visited the School of Infantry and Tactics in Sylhet. He interacted with faculty members and students during his visit. Bangladesh’s civil and military leadership appreciated Pakistan’s professional armed forces. They also acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
Meetings with Senior Military Officials
Gen Mirza met Bangladesh’s naval, air, and armed forces leadership. He held discussions with Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan. He also met Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division. These meetings aimed to enhance defence cooperation and strategic coordination.
Improving Bilateral Ties
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh are gradually improving. The shift follows Bangladesh’s political change after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024. The United Nations reported over 1,400 deaths during the unrest. Ties between India and Bangladesh cooled afterward, creating space for renewed Islamabad-Dhaka engagement.
Pakistan and Bangladesh recently boosted diplomatic and trade interactions. PM Shehbaz Sharif met Muhammad Yunus in New York last year. Later, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar also visited Dhaka in August 2025. In February, both countries resumed direct government-to-government trade, including rice imports.
