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Deal for fighter jets, resumption of direct passenger flights: Bangladesh-Pakistan ties improve amid strain with India
Direct flights between the two nations were not operational for more than a decade amid strained relations; the two countries last saw direct operations in 2012
Bangladesh is set to resume direct flights with Pakistan, with its national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, to launch non-stop flights to Karachi later this month.
Further, Pakistan is set to offer its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Bangladesh amid strengthening ties between the two countries, Islamabad's military has announced. The JF-17 Thunder is a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan.
Direct flight resumption after over a decade
The flights between Dhaka and Karachi starting from January 29 is part of the closing ties between the two countries. "Initially, flights will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays," Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo reported, citing a press statement.
Direct flights between the two nations were not operational for more than a decade amid strained relations. The two countries last saw direct operations in 2012, PTI news agency reported.
The flight from Dhaka will depart at 8:00 pm local time and arrive in Karachi at 11:00 pm. The return flight will depart Karachi at midnight and arrive in Dhaka at 4:20 am, the airline statement said.
Will Dhaka-Karachi flight fly through India?
It is not yet known whether the Biman Bangladesh Airlines would take the Indian airspace to Pakistan as the shortest route lies through central India. According to PTI, it is not immediately clear whether Bangladesh has secured the necessary clearance from New Delhi for overflight permissions.
The direct flights between the two countries comes after months of discussions between the two regulators to reopen the Dhaka-Karachi route.
Deal for jets developed with China
For the fighter jet deal, Pakistan's Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmood Khan held a talk on a potential pact over the sale of JF-17s to Dhaka, Reuters reported.
“The meeting focused on strengthening operational cooperation and institutional synergy, with emphasis on training, capacity building, and collaboration in aerospace advancements,” Pakistan military's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The talks of "potential procurement" between the two countries come amid a resumption of ties in the past few months after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh in August 2024 and Muhammad Yunus-led interim government coming to power.
According to the military statement, Islamabad has assured Bangladesh of fast-tracked delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, along with a complete training and long-term support ecosystem.
"The visit underscored the strong historical ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh and reflected a shared resolve to deepen defence cooperation and build a long-term strategic partnership," the military statement reportedly said.
A defence delegation led by Bangladesh Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, called on his Pakistan counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, at Air Headquarters, Islamabad, on Tuesday.
Pakistan is already in talks with Azerbaijan and finalised a $4 billion deal with Libyan National Army to supply JF-17.
Islamabad had used a different type of fighter jets, the J-10, during the May conflict with India, military experts and officials have said. Pakistan has also claimed that the jet has proved its capabilities since the conflict.
Geopolitical realignment in South Asia
The ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh two countries have grown significantly after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh following student-led protests in August 2024, and Muhammad Yunus took over as the Chief Adviser of the interim government.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has approved the operation of the route and allowed the Bangladeshi airline to use designated air corridors within Pakistani airspace.
The plan to resume direct flights between the two countries were first announced in August 2024 during the visit of Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka. Dar's Dhaka visit was the first such high-level engagement between Pakistan and Bangladesh in over a decade.
Two Pakistani private airlines — Fly Jinnah and AirSial — had also received approval from the aviation authorities in Bangladesh to operate direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
