On the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus held a significant bilateral meeting on September 25. This marked the first high-level contact between the two nations in years, aiming to repair ties severed during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure. The meeting underscored the mutual desire to revitalize relations, with both sides agreeing on the need for closer cooperation across political, economic, and cultural domains.
Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s deep fraternal ties with Bangladesh, rooted in shared faith, history, and culture. He emphasized enhancing bilateral cooperation through parliamentary exchanges, people-to-people contacts, and cultural interactions. During the meeting, Shehbaz extended an invitation to Professor Yunus to visit Pakistan, further symbolizing the desire for stronger ties.
Promoting Regional Cooperation
Both leaders emphasized the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a regional platform that has been inactive since 2014. Yunus, an advocate for SAARC’s revival, saw this meeting as a crucial step toward fostering economic cooperation in South Asia. Pakistan expressed full support, with Shehbaz stressing a step-by-step approach to bringing the regional forum back into action. This aligns with both nations’ strategic interest in countering India’s dominance in the region, especially as Bangladesh and Pakistan share a history of strained relations with India.
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SAARC has faced a prolonged stalemate, particularly due to the tensions between India and Pakistan. The last SAARC summit, scheduled for 2016 in Islamabad, was canceled after India and other members refused to participate following the Pathankot and Uri attacks. The revival of SAARC is seen as essential by Pakistan and Bangladesh to boost regional cooperation and resolve disputes through dialogue.
Global and Regional Developments
Aside from the bilateral focus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Discussions with Erdogan covered a range of topics including economic cooperation, defense, and mutual support on global issues like the Gaza crisis. Both leaders called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israel’s actions. Erdogan expressed admiration for Pakistan’s economic reforms under Shehbaz’s leadership, further solidifying the two countries’ strong diplomatic ties.
Shehbaz also addressed the Jammu and Kashmir conflict during his meeting with Secretary-General Guterres, reiterating Pakistan’s call for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions. He highlighted Pakistan’s concerns over India’s actions in the region and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to international peace, particularly through its role in the UN peacekeeping missions.
Focus on Development and Global Issues
Prime Minister Shehbaz’s speech at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Moment 2024 garnered widespread praise for its inclusivity and focus on global challenges like climate change and terrorism. Highlighting the disproportionate impact of climate disasters on developing nations like Pakistan, Shehbaz called for greater international support in addressing these crises. His remarks resonated with experts who emphasized the importance of addressing debt burdens and economic disparities exacerbated by environmental disasters.
In his engagements, Shehbaz Sharif not only focused on regional issues but also stressed Pakistan’s role in contributing to global peace and security, reflecting the country’s continued commitment to multilateral cooperation.