New York: India kept close watch as the prime ministers of Pakistan and Bangladesh met on sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in a thawing of ties between the two nations after over 55 years.
Shehbaz Sharif and Tarique Rahman reportedly agreed to build on what they described as positive momentum in bilateral relations.
The meeting, held at the UN headquarters on September 24, focused on strengthening cooperation across trade, investment, connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The leaders also discussed regional and global developments and underlined the importance of maintaining regular dialogue on issues of common interest, as reported by News18.
Dhaka had earlier expressed its wish to be part of the “Islamic NATO” formed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey through the Mecca declaration.
During the meeting between the two prime ministers, Sharif congratulated Bangladesh on assuming the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Dhaka’s efforts to advance the objectives of the United Nations. Both sides also stressed the importance of closer coordination at multilateral forums, particularly the UN.
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh had remained strained since 1971, when the latter became an independent country. The massacre of civilians carried out by the Pakistan Army under Operation Searchlight had been at the centre of the cold ties between the two countries, with Dhaka demanding an apology from Islamabad.
Things started changing from 2024 when Sheikh Hasina was ousted from her position of the prime minister of Bangladesh during an uprising and fled to India.
The interim government that came to power thereafter under Muhammad Yunus began parleys with Pakistan to create better ties, much to India’s concerns.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry has said that bilateral ties have gained momentum over the past 18 months, with the two countries signing eight agreements and memoranda of understanding during Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister’s visit to Dhaka in August 2025.
These included a Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor involving scholarships for Bangladeshi students. Bilateral trade stood at $865 million in 2024-25, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Rahman came to power in February 2026, with Sharif congratulating him and inviting him to Pakistan. Both leaders had agreed to remain in close contact.
For Dhaka, the emphasis in the New York meeting was on expanding cooperation on the basis of “mutual respect, mutual understanding and cooperation”. Bangladeshi officials said the leaders exchanged views on regional and international developments and explored areas where greater cooperation could benefit people in both countries.
Rahman’s father Ziaur Rahman deserted from the Pakistan Army in 1971 and led Bangladeshi forces against it during the liberation war. It was he who announced the independence of Bangladesh on March 27, 1971, on behalf of the country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.