India

Pakistan shares its longest border with India. The relationship between the two countries is rooted in their shared history under British Colonial Rule and the partition of the sub-continent in 1947, which led to the creation of two independent sovereign states. Partition was accompanied by large scale migration, communal violence, and an unresolved political issues including Jammu and Kashmir, the consequences of which continue to shape bilateral relations.

Following independence in 1947, Pakistan and India established diplomatic relations by appointing High Commissioners in their respective capitals. Despite period of tensions and conflict the countries have also maintained engagement through diplomatic channels and have signed 49 agreements and MOUs covering areas such as Trade, water sharing, travel, and cultural exchanges particularly related to religious pilgrimage.

Pakistan has consistently advocated good-neighborly relations with India based on the principles of sovereign equality, peaceful co-existence, and mutual respect. It has repeatedly advocated for constructive and result-oriented dialogue to address all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The two countries were extensively involved through a structured engagement ‘Composite Dialogue’ which included eight segments, covering peace and security including  Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek,  Wuller Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, economic and commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism measures, narcotics control, humanitarian issues, and people-to-people exchanges. The last round of the Composite Dialogue was held in 2012. While the dialogue was revived in December 2015, it did not take off owing to India’s reluctance.

The bilateral relations have been severely impacted by India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019 in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Notwithstanding difficulties in bilateral relations, the then Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, visited India to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting on 4-5 May 2023. The visit carried significance as a Foreign Minister of Pakistan travelled to India after a gap of over a decade. The decision demonstrated Pakistan’s pragmatic approach though India was not willing to engage with Pakistan. Subsequently, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar attended the SCO Council of Heads of Governments Meeting in Islamabad on 6-7 September 2024.  

The bilateral relations have further deteriorated in the aftermath of the May 2025, conflict, triggered by India’s irresponsible behavior citing Pahalgam incident of 22 April 2025, whereby India hastily blamed Pakistan without credible evidence and announced a series of hostile measures. Pakistan categorically rejected Indian allegations and proposed an independent, transparent investigation by neutral experts, which India declined.

Subsequently, during the night of 6–7 May 2025, India conducted strikes inside Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, targeting civilian population, including women and children. The Indian aggression prompted Pakistan to convene a National Security Committee meeting, reaffirming its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. In response, Pakistan launched Operation “Bunayan-um-Marsoos” on 10 May 2025, targeting 26 Indian military installations. Following diplomatic outreach by friendly countries including the U.S., U.K., and Saudi Arabia, a ceasefire was agreed upon on 10 May 2025.

Pakistan emerged from the crisis as a peace-loving, responsible and confident country. Pakistan’s measured response to the blatant Indian aggression reaffirmed its deterrence, reinforced strategic balance in the region while successfully safeguarding the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in international law.

Following the May 2025 conflict, India continues to use belligerent rhetoric and has weaponized water through river flow manipulation and construction of illegal dams on Western Rivers, in total disregard for the Indus Waters Treaty. India is also undermining the dispute resolution mechanisms of the Treaty by refusing data sharing, inspection visits, and refusing to participate in legal proceedings. India is systemically targeting water arrangements between the two countries which are cornerstones of peace and stability. Such Indian actions are pushing the whole region towards conflict. 

Despite India's belligerent posturing, Pakistan continues to facilitate Sikh yatrees’ and visitors from India to the religious sites. In November 2025, Pakistan issued 2,942 visas to Sikh Pilgrims to facilitate their travel through Wagah Border. Kartarpur Corridor also remains fully operational from our side; however, Indian government is reluctant to allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib. India has also banned short term visas for Pakistani nationals and has not allowed any visits of Pakistani Zaireen under the Bilateral Protocol of 1974, since May, 2025.

Nepal

Pakistan and Nepal relations are not new. The history, geography and civilization linkages bind the two people. Soon after Pakistan independence in 1947 it developed friendly relations with Nepal. Initial contacts between the two countries began in 1952 at Colombo Plan meetings and then at Bandung Conference in 1955. Subsequently, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hamid-ul-Haq Chaudhry participated in the coronation ceremony of the late King Mahendra in 1956.

The formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in March 1960. The very next year 1961 (Late) King Mahendra visited Pakistan. President Ayub Khan paid a return visit to Kathmandu in 1963, and it was during this visit that the two countries decided to establish diplomatic missions in each other’s capital. Since then various High-level contacts between the two countries have been regular but inconsistent. Both sides maintained healthy interaction on the sidelines or Regional (SAARC) and Multilateral meetings (UN).

Pakistan and Nepal cooperate in the fields of education, trade, tourism, and culture. Pakistan has provided scholarships to Nepali students under various higher education and technical training programs. Trade between the two countries, while modest, is conducted under SAARC and bilateral trade arrangements

High-Level Visits

High-level exchanges and diplomatic consultations have taken place periodically, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to strengthen bilateral ties and promote peace and development in South Asia.

From Nepal after the Late King Mahendra (1961), late King Birendra, former Crown Prince Dipendra, Prime Minister Nagendra Prasad Rijal, Surya Bahdur Thapa, Marich Man Singh, Girja Prasad Koirala, Sher Bhadur Deuba (1994) and Foreign Minister, Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey (2014) visited Pakistan on different occasions. From Pakistan’s side after President Ayub Khan paid his maiden visit 1963, Prime Ministers Muhammad Khan Junejo, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed (1994), President Pervez Musharraf (2002), Shaukat Aziz (2004), Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani (2010), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (2014) and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (2018) visited Kathmandu. The first bilateral visit by a Pakistani Head of Government after 24 years was by the former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in 2018. Besides, there have been a number of ministerial and senior official level visits between the two countries.

Institutional Cooperation

There are several institutional mechanisms for extending cooperation between the two countries including the Bilateral Political Consultations, Joint Economic Commission and Pakistan-Nepal Joint Business Council.

The two countries have signed around 20 Agreements/MoUs in diverse fields of cooperation. As the host of the SAARC Secretariat, Nepal plays an important role in promoting regional cooperation, peace, and shared prosperity in South Asia—objectives that Pakistan and Nepal jointly uphold and advance through their close partnership.

Defence Cooperation

Defence relations between the two countries date back to 1960. Pakistan has trained over 1,100 Nepal’s Army Officers/Soldiers. Nepal Army Chief visited Pakistan in 2018 and in the same year Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff Committee also visited Nepal.

Technical Assistance

Pakistan has extended technical assistance, training, and educational support to Nepal for several decades, including the provision o scholarships in fields such as medicine, engineering, dentistry, pharmacy, banking, agriculture, and commerce. Under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme (PTAP), administered by the Ministry of Economic Affairs since 1976, Pakistan has regularly offered 25-30 scholarships annually to Nepali students, along with training opportunities in diplomatic and professional institutions. During a Prime Ministerial visit in 2018, Pakistan announced an increase in PTAP scholarships for Nepal from 25 to 50, with a phased expansion and diversification of fields, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation through capacity building and human resource development.

Bangladesh

Since recognition of Bangladesh in 1974 Pakistan has endeavored to maintain a positive bilateral approach based on convergence of interest. There have been a few high-level bilateral exchanges since year 2000, including President Pervaz Musharraf’s visit to Bangladesh in July, 2000 and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s visit to Pakistan in February, 2006.

High-Level Visits

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held important sideline meetings with the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Professor Muhammad Yunus during the interim government (New York and Baku September 2024, Cairo December 2024, and again in New York September, 2025).

The Prime Minister also congratulated the newly elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mr. Tarique Rahman over telephone after his party’s landmark victory in the general elections held on 9 February 2026 and invited him to visit Pakistan at a convenient date.

Bilateral Relations

Bilateral relations have witnessed a positive momentum during the past eighteen months, marking a departure from over a decade of limited engagement. During the visit of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister to Dhaka in August, 2025 the two countries signed eight agreements/MoUs including Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor which envisages award of 500 fully funded scholarship to Bangladeshi students in Pakistani universities during a period of five years. A group of 74 students have already joined their respective institutions in February, 2026.

Institutional Cooperation

The two countries has several institutional mechanism including bilateral consultations at the Foreign Secretary-level (last held in April, 2025 in Dhaka), Joint Economic Commission (October, 2025) and China-Bangladesh-Pakistan trilateral mechanism (June, 2024, Kunming). The two countries also maintained cordial supportive relations at multilateral forums including at UN, OIC, D-8, and SAARC.

Bilateral trade between the two countries was registered at US$ 865 million during 2024-25. The two countries are working to expand mutual trade in coming years. There have been several high-level exchanges of defence delegations between the two countries during 2025-26. Pakistan and Bangladesh are poised to build a forward-looking partnership focused on regional connectivity, economic collaboration, and shared prosperity.

Sri Lanka

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have maintained steady political, defence, economic and cultural ties ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948. Over the years high-level visits by heads of state, heads of government, Foreign Ministers and Military leaders have played a positive role in shaping these relations. The two countries have also supported each other at multilateral foras including SAARC.

During the period from 2000-2021, several leadership-level exchanges including that of President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Presidents Mahinda Raja Paksa, and Maithripala Srisena took place. In the recent past Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held meetings with the Sri Lankan President on the sidelines of World Governments Summit held in Dubai in February, 2025 and in New York in September, 2025. At the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the President of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, is scheduled to pay an official visit to Pakistan later this year.

The Prime Minister also called the Sri Lankan President in December 2025, in the aftermath of Cyclon ‘Ditwa’, followed by which Minister for Maritime Affairs, visited Colombo to express solidarity with the people and government of Sri Lanka. The Government also provided relief assistance to Sri Lanka.

Institutional Mechanisms

The two countries have several institutional mechanisms including Bilateral Political Consultations, (last round held in July 2024), Joint Economic Commission (January, 2026), Secretary Commerce-level Talks (January, 2026), Joint Working Group on Trade, Investment and Auto Sector (December, 2022) and Joint Working Group on Customs Cooperation (August, 2021), and defence-level dialogue.

Parliamentary Cooperation

Both countries have strong parliamentary relations with the parliamentarians engaging through bilateral contacts and multilateral parliamentary forums i.e. Common Wealth Parliamentary Association

Bilateral Trade

Pakistan signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka in 2002, with the bilateral trade ranging between US$ 400-500 million per year.

Cooperation in Education Sector

Pakistan launched a Higher Education Cooperation Programme in 2018 for a period of five years, under which 800 fully funded scholarships were to be offered to Sri Lankan students at graduation and post-graduate level. Additionally, 200 partially funded scholarships at under-graduate level and short training courses for 50 government officials in public administration governance and leadership at Pakistani institutions. The programme has been largely successful and the two sides are now considering to expand it for a further period of five years.

Defence Cooperation

Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy excellent defence relation. Pakistan has been playing a significant role in enhancing capacity building of Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The two countries have also been exchanging high-level military delegations. The two countries also enjoy strong cultural and sports ties including Cricket where each country has been supportive to the other.

Maldives

Pakistan and Maldives established diplomatic relations in 1966, one year after the latter got independence. Both countries enjoy cordial diplomatic relations. Pakistan, over the years, has contributed to and invested in several development and welfare projects in Maldives. The Parliament building of Maldives is a gift by Pakistan, constructed at a cost of US $ 4.27 million. Inaugurated in 1998 in the presence of the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, both countries have the mechanism of Bilateral Political consultations (BPC). Leadership of the two countries maintains regular interaction.