Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, embarked on a three-day-long visit to Bangladesh on Nov 9, marking the first trip by a Pakistan Navy official Bangladesh, since the 1971 Liberation War.

On the first day of his visit, Admiral Ashraf paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Army Chief, Gen Waker-uz-Zaman at Army Headquarters in Dhaka, where the two discussed strengthening defence ties and enhancing cooperation between the countries' militaries, reports Daily Star.

The meeting also covered plans for bilateral training programmes, seminars, and exchange visits, according to a statement from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) and a post by the Bangladesh Army on social media.

Admiral Ashraf also praised the professionalism of Bangladeshi participants in the multinational naval exercise AMAN 2025, held in Karachi and the North Arabian Sea in February this year.

Later, the Pakistan Navy chief met with his Bangladeshi counterpart, ADM M Nazmul Hassan, at Naval Headquarters in Banani, and received a guard of honour by the naval contingent. Afterwards, he proceeded to inspect the guard and took the salute.

Senior officials from both sides, including the Pakistan High Commissioner, Defence Attaché, and Principal Staff Officers from Bangladesh Navy Headquarters, attended the meeting, which was focused on training cooperation and professional collaboration.

Earlier in the day, the Pak Navy Chief also paid tribute to the members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives during the 1971 war, laying a wreath at Shikha Anirban in Dhaka Cantonment.

During his stay, the Pakistan Navy chief is scheduled to meet the Chief of Air Staff, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, the Commandant of the National Defence College, and senior naval officials in Chattogram.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Navy ship PNS Saif arrived at Chattogram Port on Saturday (Nov 9) for a four-day goodwill visit.

The ship's commanding officer and crew will visit the Bangladesh Naval Academy, naval bases, and other key sites, while Bangladesh Navy personnel are expected to board PNS Saif to exchange professional experiences.

ADM Ashraf's visit comes just two weeks after Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman, Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, who met Interim Government Chief Muhammad Yunus and Bangladesh's three service chiefs in Dhaka two weeks ago.

The successive high-level visits of Pakistani defence officials to Bangladesh mark a significant shift in the Dhaka-Islamabad relations, as defence exchanges between the two countries have been scarce. ADM Ashraf and PNS Saif are scheduled to depart on Nov 12.