Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to embark on two important foreign visits this month as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties with key regional countries.

According to the Foreign Office, Ishaq Dar will visit Kabul on April 19 for a one-day official trip at the invitation of Afghanistan’s interim foreign minister. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation during the visit.

While in Kabul, the Deputy Prime Minister is expected to hold key meetings with Afghanistan’s Acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and other senior Afghan officials. The talks will focus on “all aspects of Pak-Afghan relations,” the Foreign Office said in a statement, adding that the visit reflects Islamabad’s desire to build sustainable ties with the brotherly nation of Afghanistan.

Following his trip to Kabul, Ishaq Dar will travel to Bangladesh from April 26 to 28 for a comprehensive diplomatic visit. The final schedule for the Dhaka trip was finalized in meetings held between Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch and Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka on Thursday.

The agenda for the three-day visit to Bangladesh includes wide-ranging discussions on enhancing cooperation in several key sectors, including trade, economic collaboration, public diplomacy, defense, and security. 

Also Read: Bangladesh demands apology from Pakistan over 1971 war: reports

Diplomatic sources say that Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka marks a significant step toward improving bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with both countries aiming to revitalize diplomatic and economic engagement in the years ahead

Earlier, international media reports said that Bangladesh has formally demanded an apology from Pakistan over the events of the 1971 war, during a recent meeting between the foreign secretaries of both countries in Dhaka.

The issue was reportedly raised by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen during bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Amina Baloch, who is currently in Dhaka. In addition to the apology, Dhaka also demanded the settlement of $4.52 billion it claims as dues following its independence.

Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is reported to have said that resolving these historical and financial issues is essential for improving bilateral relations.

"The normalization of our relations depends on addressing these longstanding matters," he purportedly said, adding that both sides also discussed opportunities for trade and investment during the meeting.

The Bangladeshi government emphasized the need to overcome obstacles hampering bilateral ties and called for a forward-looking approach while addressing unresolved disputes.