Pakistan, Bangladesh Agree on Visa-Free Travel for Diplomatic, Official Passports

Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed in principle to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports, marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties. As part of this development, a joint committee has been established to enhance cooperation between the two nations.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, currently on a visit to Dhaka, met with Bangladesh’s Minister of Home Affairs, Lieutenant General (Retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Upon his arrival at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Naqvi received a warm reception and was honored with a guard of honour.

During the high-level meeting, both ministers discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, including the current state and future prospects of Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. They agreed to expand collaboration in areas such as internal security and police training.

To formalize this collaboration, a bilateral joint committee was set up. The Pakistani side will be led by Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Agha. Additionally, a senior Bangladeshi delegation is expected to visit Islamabad in the near future to observe Pakistan’s Safe City Project and the National Police Academy.

The two sides also explored ways to intensify cooperation in combating drug trafficking and human smuggling. Furthermore, discussions were held on launching joint initiatives against terrorism and developing exchange programs for training in police academies.

Welcoming the Pakistani minister, Lieutenant General (Retired) Jahangir Alam expressed heartfelt gratitude, calling him a “brother” and emphasizing that the visit would play a vital role in deepening Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. He also thanked Minister Naqvi for offering police training support.

The meeting was attended by key officials from both sides, including Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Home Affairs Khoda Bakhsh, Interior Secretary Nasim Al-Ghani, and Additional Secretary of the Security Division Shamim Khan. From Pakistan, Acting High Commissioner Muhammad Wasif and Political Counsellor Kamran Dongal were present, along with other senior representatives.

Read More: Tallal Chaudhary Condemns Terrorist Activity on Digital Platforms, Calls for Global Action