A forward-looking relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan presents a range of strategic, economic, and geopolitical opportunities that remain largely underutilised since their separation in 1971. Despite a complex historical legacy, both countries share overlapping economic priorities and common challenges in the global arena. The July 2024 uprising and the victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the Parliamentary election in February 2026 have opened a diplomatic window. This reflects Bangladesh’s diversified foreign policy. During the Awami League government, now ousted, Bangladesh took the India-centric policy line that had kept ties with Pakistan largely frozen for years.
The Pakistan-Bangladesh relationship in 2026 is no longer defined by the past, but by pragmatic necessity. By leveraging their combined market of over 400 million people, the two nations have a unique opportunity to lead a multipolar South Asia toward greater economic integration and regional stability. Diplomatic engagement between the two countries has increased, alongside a revival in trade and connectivity. In November 2024, a Pakistani vessel docked at Chattogram Port for the first time in decades, while direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi resumed in January 2026. Strengthening bilateral ties could therefore unlock mutual benefits while contributing to broader South Asian stability.
Economic Cooperation
One of the most immediate opportunities lies in economic cooperation. Bangladesh’s economic growth positions itself as an attractive trade partner for Pakistan. Enhanced bilateral trade agreements could diversify export markets for both countries, reduce dependency on traditional partners, and promote supply chain integration. For instance, Pakistan’s textile raw materials and Bangladesh’s garment manufacturing expertise could form a complementary production network, increasing competitiveness in global markets. Both nations are currently exploring a concessionary trade agreement that offers tariff reductions greater than the existing South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). Bangladesh has already imported significant quantities of Pakistani rice (52,000 tonnes in 2025)
Investment Collaboration
Beyond trade, investment collaboration offers another promising avenue. Bangladesh’s growing infrastructure and energy needs align with Pakistan’s experience in power generation and construction sectors. Additionally, both countries could benefit from cooperation in digital services and fintech sectors that are becoming increasingly vital in the global economy.
Rebalance Regional Dynamics
From a geopolitical perspective, improved Bangladesh and Pakistan relations could help rebalance regional dynamics in South Asia. Both nations often navigate complex relationships with larger regional powers. By strengthening bilateral ties, they could enhance their strategic autonomy and create new diplomatic leverage. Coordinated positions in multilateral forums such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation could amplify their collective voice on various global issues.
Regional Connectivity
A positive relationship could significantly expand connectivity. A logistics revolution is underway to bypass the high costs of third-country transit. Direct shipping and air links between Karachi and Dhaka resumed in early 2026, marking the end of a 14-year halt. Pakistan has formally proposed the use of Karachi Port for Bangladesh-China trade, positioning the region as a vital commercial bridge. Collaborative efforts are being discussed to enhance regional fibre-optic networks and digital payment systems to facilitate B2B transactions. Through cooperation in forums like SAARC, both countries could promote intra-regional trade, improve maritime routes in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and thereby strengthen South Asian economic integration.
Security Cooperation
Security cooperation also presents an important opportunity. While direct military collaboration may remain limited, confidence-building measures, intelligence sharing on transnational threats, and counterterrorism dialogue could contribute to regional stability. Both countries face challenges related to cyber threats and maritime security in the Indian Ocean. Recent agreements include the delivery of Super Mushshak training aircraft and high-level technical training for the Bangladesh Air Force. Bangladesh is exploring the acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet from Pakistan, citing its cost-effectiveness compared to Western alternatives.
People-to-People Engagement
People-to-people engagement is another critical dimension. Despite political divisions, historical, cultural, and sports elements provide a foundation for rebuilding trust. Academic exchanges, media collaboration, and diaspora engagement can gradually reshape public perceptions and reduce lingering mistrust. On 4 June 12 Bangladeshi bureaucrats were sent for a two-week Executive Leadership training in Pakistan to enhance knowledge exchange in public administration between these countries, marking the first such visit in Pakistan since the early 1970s.
Strategic Challenges
Improving bilateral Bangladesh-Pakistan relations offers significant opportunities in trade, regional stability, cultural exchange, and strategic cooperation. Despite these opportunities, several challenges, particularly historical sensitivity and geopolitical balancing, remain. Realising these opportunities requires careful management of historical sensitivities, particularly issues related to the 1971 war.
Bangladeshi and Pakistani officials can take lessons from how the reconciliation initiatives between the US and Vietnam, between China and Japan, and between South Korea and Japan were materialised. South Korea and Japan have a relationship shaped by deep historical trauma, especially Japan’s colonial rule (1910 to 1945) of Korea. Japan's wartime atrocities during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) led to widespread violence, including the Nanjing Massacre. The Vietnam War (1955-1975) killed 58,000 Americans and millions of Vietnamese, involving atrocities like napalm and dioxin poisoning that devastated land and health. Now they have a success story of post-atrocity reconciliation, transforming from wartime enemies.
A pragmatic approach focused on economic and strategic cooperation while acknowledging but not being constrained by the past is essential to improve the relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan. While challenges remain, the evolving regional and global contexts make renewed engagement both timely and strategically advantageous. By prioritising mutual interests and adopting a forward-looking approach, both nations can transform a historically strained relationship into a productive partnership that will definitely contribute to regional prosperity and stability.
Geopolitically, Bangladesh must navigate this warming relationship without jeopardising its significant strategic ties with India. The newly elected BNP-led government should pursue a policy of competitive coexistence, seeking to diversify its partnerships so as to reduce overdependence on a single country, be it India or Pakistan.
Dr Sajjad M Jasimuddin is a Professor (Professeur Senior) at Kedge Business School and Head of the Geopolitics Strategy Lab (France). He previously held faculty positions at several universities based in Bangladesh (University of Dhaka), Saudi Arabia, the UK, the UAE, and China.