Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that Islamabad intends to enhance engagement with Dhaka from February following Bangladesh’s 13th national election. Speaking at a year-end press conference in Islamabad on December 27, Dar referred to his August visit to Bangladesh, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years, as a key step toward revitalizing bilateral relations. Dar described his meetings with leaders of the National Citizen Party, BNP, and Jamaat-e-Islami as positive and productive. He noted that past governments, including those led by the Awami League, had not maintained strong bilateral ties, but expressed optimism about future cooperation. The visit focused on expanding trade, investment, cultural and educational collaboration, and regional cooperation under SAARC. Dar emphasized that post-election political realities could open new opportunities for diplomatic and cooperative progress between the two South Asian nations.