Pakistan foreign min in Dhaka to rebuild ties, first in 13 years

DHAKA: Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday for a rare two-day visit, aimed at rebuilding ties with Bangladesh following the ouster of longtime PM Sheikh Hasina.

A special flight carrying Dar, the most senior Pakistani leader to visit Bangladesh since 2012, arrived in Dhaka, with Islamabad calling it a "significant milestone" in bilateral relations. Hina Rabbani Khar was the last Pakistani foreign minister to visit Dhaka in Nov 2012 to invite Hasina to a summit.

Dar is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with foreign affairs advisor Touhid Hossain Sunday, said officials.

The two countries have finalised several deals, including a visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders, a cultural exchange MoU, cooperation between foreign service academies, a joint trade and investment group, and MoUs on strategic studies and state news agency cooperation, they added.