Trade, Defence in focus as PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal to visit Bangladesh for 3-Day Talks

ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir may undertake a three-day visit to Bangladesh for talks focusing on trade and defence cooperation. The development has not been officially confirmed by the Foreign Office, but sources familiar with the development hinted that major geopolitical events may be unfolding in the region. PM Sharif and the Army Chief will visit Bangladesh on a three-day official visit amid diplomatic resets between Islamabad and Dhaka in decades. The proposed visit is expected to come shortly after an anticipated trip to China by Bangladeshi political figure Tarique Rahman, a timing that analysts say could reflect a carefully unfolding sequence of regional diplomatic signalling with broader strategic implications. If the visit proceeds as reported, discussions in Dhaka are expected to span an unusually wide and ambitious agenda. Trade expansion, industrial cooperation, defence collaboration, and improved regional connectivity are all expected to feature prominently in talks between the two sides. However, the most closely watched and potentially controversial element is defence cooperation—an area that has remained historically limited between Pakistan and Bangladesh since their separation and decades of strained relations. Emerging reports suggest that Pakistan could play a role in assisting with the modernisation of the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory, a move that could boost Bangladesh’s domestic defence manufacturing capacity. The cooperation may reportedly extend beyond infrastructure upgrades to include technical assistance and collaboration in advanced military domains such as drone technology and missile-related systems. Beyond industrial defence cooperation, sources suggest that both countries may explore deeper military-to-military engagement. This could include joint training exercises, exchanges of defence personnel, and expanded coordination on security-related matters. While these possibilities are