Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
Hossain told the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha that “it is strategically possible for Bangladesh to join a regional grouping with Pakistan excluding India.”
Responding to Hossain’s remarks, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Islamabad “believes in multilateralism” and that any proposal from Bangladesh would be considered in the same spirit.
Hossain added that while such a grouping is strategically feasible for Bangladesh, it would not be possible for Nepal or Bhutan to form a similar arrangement with Pakistan excluding India.
Last week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said a new trilateral initiative involving Bangladesh, China and Pakistan has begun and could expand to include other countries within and beyond the region.
Dar noted that “earlier this year, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan established a trilateral mechanism to foster cooperation in areas of common interest. There could be groups with variable geometry on issues ranging from economy to technology to connectivity.”
The first trilateral meeting was hosted by China in June in Kunming, with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong representing Beijing. Bangladesh was represented by acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, while Pakistan was represented by Additional Secretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui.
According to a joint statement, the three sides agreed to advance cooperation across multiple sectors and committed to the principles of “good-neighbourliness, equality and mutual trust, openness and inclusiveness, common development and win-win cooperation.” The framework is rooted in “true multilateralism and open regionalism” and is “not directed at any third party.”
China and Pakistan are described as “all-weather strategic cooperative partners,” and Beijing’s ties with Bangladesh have strengthened in recent years. Last year, bilateral trade between China and both Pakistan and Bangladesh was around $23 billion.
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Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
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