Independent Report
Islamabad, Sep. 30,
— The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized an In-House Round-table discussion on “Pakistan-Bangladesh Relations and Regional Cooperation.”
The session featured Maj. Gen. (R) Fazle Elahi Akbar, Chairman of the Foundation for Strategic and Development Studies, Bangladesh, as the Distinguished Speaker. The event was attended by former diplomats, practitioners, academics, and area specialists.
Participants reviewed the recent positive momentum in bilateral ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, examined opportunities and challenges within South Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape, and discussed the likely future shape of regional cooperation.
While commending the recent warmth in relations, the speakers emphasized the importance of adopting a forward-looking, future-oriented approach to expand cooperation beyond traditional sectors. They noted encouraging developments in multi-sectoral engagement at both governmental and societal levels, underscoring the potential of shared historical and cultural roots, mutual interests, and common challenges as a strong foundation for joint objectives.
The Round-table proposed several initiatives to further strengthen people-to-people exchanges, including resumption of direct flights, easing travel barriers, diversification of trade, promotion of tourism, cultural collaboration, youth connectivity, academic and think-tank exchanges, and mutual learning across different domains.
Participants further agreed that both Pakistan and Bangladesh share the conviction that regional cooperation must not remain hostage to the interests of any single country. They stressed that the global shift towards a multipolar world order requires South Asia to deepen regional economic integration and connectivity.
Highlighting recent leadership commitments from both countries, speakers reiterated that the revival of SAARC remains essential while simultaneously exploring new avenues of cooperation through innovative frameworks such as the recent Bangladesh-China-Pakistan trilateral, which could serve as a model for future partnerships.
Concluding the session, participants agreed that reimagining South Asia’s regional cooperation architecture—anchored in security, development, and connectivity—has become indispensable.
