Bangladesh’s top military official, Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hasan, has made a rare visit to Pakistan. On Tuesday, he visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and held separate meetings with Pakistan’s military leadership.
Lieutenant General Kamrul Hasan, who serves as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, is the second-highest-ranking Bangladeshi military official to visit Pakistan in a long time. This visit is being regarded as a high-level engagement from the Bangladesh Army to Pakistan after many years.
This visit is considered the beginning of a new chapter in military relations between the two countries, especially following the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government in August. For the past 15 years, under Sheikh Hasina’s government, relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh had remained stagnant, with Pakistan’s peace overtures repeatedly rejected. However, since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, relations between the two countries have shown some improvement.
As part of his visit, Lieutenant General Kamrul Hasan held separate meetings with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
In his meeting with Army Chief General Munir, Lieutenant General Hasan held extensive discussions on security matters and explored potential avenues for strengthening bilateral military cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of a robust defense relationship and highlighted the necessity of joint efforts to ensure peace and stability in South Asia and the broader region through security collaboration.
Additionally, Lieutenant General Hasan had a detailed meeting with CJCSC Chairman General Mirza, where they discussed mutual strategic interests and explored ways to enhance bilateral defense cooperation.
Both parties emphasized the importance of strengthening military ties and protecting this relationship from external interference. General Mirza and Lieutenant General Hasan agreed on the significance of continued collaboration in promoting joint security, peace, and stability.
Lieutenant General Hasan praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and expressed deep respect for their sacrifices and commitment in the fight against terrorism.
Experts believe that this visit could mark a significant turning point in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations and open a new chapter of military cooperation between the two nations.