Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf’s visit to Dhaka marks a significant step in Pakistan–Bangladesh defence cooperation. The two sides discussed joint naval training, maritime security, and regional stability following Bangladesh’s political transition after the 2024 July Uprising.
ISLAMABAD / DHAKA — November 9, 2025
In a significant step towards strengthening regional defence cooperation, Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf arrived in Dhaka on Sunday, marking the first high level naval visit since the political transition in Bangladesh following the July Uprising of 2024.
Admiral Ashraf was accorded a Guard of Honour upon his arrival at the Bangladesh Naval Headquarters in Banani. During his visit, he held detailed discussions with Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral M. Nazmul Hassan and Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker Uz-Zaman, focusing on enhancing military collaboration, maritime security, and regional stability.
According to Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the visit underscores Islamabad’s renewed emphasis on defence diplomacy in South Asia particularly with nations witnessing democratic transformations and shifting strategic alignments.
Strengthening Bilateral Defence Cooperation
Both sides discussed avenues for joint naval exercises, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure maritime security in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Admiral Ashraf emphasized Pakistan Navy’s commitment to regional peace through mutual respect, non interference, and cooperative security mechanisms.
“Pakistan values its growing defence ties with Bangladesh and believes enhanced naval cooperation can contribute to broader regional peace and stability,” the Navy Chief stated during the meeting.
Bangladesh’s Navy Chief Admiral Hassan expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s outreach, noting that Dhaka seeks to diversify its defence partnerships while maintaining a balanced foreign policy.
Post-Transition Diplomacy Gains Momentum
Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, in what became known as the “July Uprising,” Bangladesh has witnessed a recalibration of its foreign relations. Islamabad has responded swiftly, extending diplomatic goodwill and exploring trade and defence partnerships to rebuild trust after decades of limited engagement.
Observers in Islamabad view Admiral Ashraf’s visit as a major diplomatic stride, signaling the two nations’ willingness to move beyond the shadows of historical mistrust and focus on shared maritime and economic interests.
Regional Maritime Outlook
The Pakistan Navy’s engagement with Bangladesh aligns with its broader strategic vision of strengthening collaboration with littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In recent years, Pakistan has taken proactive steps to participate in multilateral maritime initiatives including joint patrols, anti piracy operations, and training exchanges.
Defence analysts believe that greater cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh could enhance regional naval interoperability and open new channels for defence industry collaboration.
The visit of Admiral Ashraf comes as part of a larger series of confidence building measures that Pakistan has initiated with multiple South Asian and ASEAN states, reflecting Islamabad’s pivot toward regional diplomacy driven by security, trade, and connectivity goals.
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