By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is considering resuming direct flights to Bangladesh’s capital as ties between the two South Asian nations show signs of improvement, the state-owned airline announced on Sunday, marking a potential step toward bolstering economic and people-to-people connections strained for decades.
The announcement from Pakistan International Airlines followed a visit by Bangladesh’s high commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan, to the carrier’s headquarters in Karachi. In a post on X, the airline said the two sides discussed shared concerns, “including the resumption of PIA flights to #Dhaka to re-establish the air link and strengthen the bond between the two nations.”
The development arrives amid a series of high-level engagements aimed at thawing relations that have been cool since Bangladesh’s independence more than half a century ago. Just days earlier, Sindh province’s chief minister, Murad Ali Shah, met with Bangladesh’s home secretary, Naseem-ul-Ghani, to explore avenues for cooperation, according to a statement from the Sindh government.
The pair emphasized the need for direct air and sea links between Karachi and Dhaka to enhance trade and interpersonal exchanges. “The Bangladeshi Secretary recalled that a direct shipping service had recently been established by a private company but had since stopped and appealed to the Sindh CM to help resume it through federal channels,” the statement said.
These talks build on a recent encounter between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th session in New York. The leaders committed to fostering “constructive and forward-looking ties rooted in mutual respect and trust,” according to accounts of the meeting.
Pakistan and Bangladesh share a complex history, having once formed a single country until a violent civil war in 1971 led to the secession of what was then East Pakistan, resulting in Bangladesh’s birth as an independent state. Relations have often been marked by lingering resentments from that conflict, with diplomatic and economic interactions limited.
But the political landscape in Dhaka shifted dramatically in August 2024, when a student-led uprising toppled the government of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had maintained close alliances with India and voiced criticisms of Pakistan. Hasina’s flight from the country and subsequent asylum in India have further strained Bangladesh-India relations, creating an opening for Islamabad to pursue warmer engagement.
In recent months, Pakistani officials have signaled interest in rebuilding bridges, viewing the post-Hasina era as an opportunity to reset bilateral dynamics. The push for resumed flights and shipping routes aligns with broader efforts to capitalize on shared cultural and historical ties, potentially unlocking trade opportunities in sectors such as textiles, agriculture and energy.
PIA, which has faced financial challenges and operational restrictions in recent years, did not specify a timeline for restarting the Dhaka route, which was suspended amid the broader chill in relations. The airline’s statement suggested the move could serve as a symbolic and practical gesture to reinforce goodwill.
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