- Touhid says perhaps at some point this could see some progress
BR Web Desk
December 11, 2025
Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain has said it is strategically possible for Bangladesh to join a regional grouping with Pakistan excluding India, while noting that such an option may not be feasible for Nepal or Bhutan.
Bangladesh’s state-owned news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), cited the foreign affairs adviser as saying this.
“It is possible for us (Bangladesh) strategically … (but) it is not possible for Nepal or Bhutan to form a grouping with Pakistan, excluding India,” he said, responding to a reporter’s question at the foreign ministry.
The development comes more than a week after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated at the ‘Islamabad Conclave’ that a new trilateral initiative involving Bangladesh, China and Pakistan has begun and may expand to include countries within and beyond the region, the BSS reported.
Touhid said Dar “has said something, and perhaps at some point this could see some progress,” adding that he had no further comment as he had only come across the information through the media.
Foreign Minister Dar’s visit to Bangladesh in August marked a potentially significant turning point in the complex relationship between the two countries. Both sides signalled a pragmatic shift in approach, showing a willingness to move beyond historical grievances in favour of practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
In meetings with Dhaka’s leadership, including Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Advisor Md Touhid, Dar had discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues. Key themes included boosting trade, enhancing youth and educational exchanges, expanding cultural ties, and — most notably — the revitalisation of regional cooperation through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
“Our visions are aligned,” Yunus had told Dar, adding that “SAARC remains a top priority for both of us.” He had also noted that the two economies were complementary, with significant untapped potential for joint initiatives.
These developments suggested that Dar’s visit might carry broader regional implications — most significantly, the prospect of reviving SAARC without India. India’s longstanding hostility toward Pakistan has effectively held the regional forum hostage, frustrating other member states eager to advance a collective development agenda.
Since 2016, when the SAARC summit scheduled in Islamabad was cancelled due to India’s refusal to participate following the Uri incident, the organisation has remained dormant.
Other member countries — including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — have attempted, so far unsuccessfully, to decouple SAARC’s functioning from Indo-Pak tensions.
The publication in August reported that with China reportedly showing interest in supporting a ‘soft revival’ of SAARC, even without India, there may be momentum building for a “SAARC minus India” configuration. “This version of SAARC would focus on trade, connectivity, and climate resilience—critical areas requiring regional collaboration that should not be stalled by bilateral disputes,” it had said.
