Ansar Mahmood Bhatti
ISLAMABAD, JAN 27 /DNA/ – In a significant diplomatic engagement underscoring Pakistan’s outreach to Southeast Asia, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. U Than Swe, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif this morning at the Prime Minister’s Office. The meeting, held on January 27, 2026, came amid the Myanmar Foreign Minister’s ongoing official visit to Pakistan, which has already seen high-level bilateral talks and the signing of key institutional mechanisms.
Welcoming the visiting dignitary warmly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to deepening relations with Myanmar. He highlighted the potential for expanded cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade and economic engagement, education, culture, capacity-building, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges.
The Prime Minister particularly appreciated Myanmar’s constructive role in combating human trafficking and its consistent support for Pakistan’s growing engagement with ASEAN, reflecting shared interests in regional stability and connectivity.
The Myanmar Foreign Minister conveyed heartfelt greetings and good wishes from Myanmar’s leadership to the Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan. Expressing gratitude for the gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation, U Than Swe reiterated Myanmar’s keen desire to broaden bilateral ties in areas of mutual benefit.
He specifically thanked Pakistan for its prompt and generous assistance following the devastating March 28, 2025, earthquake in central Myanmar—a 7.7-magnitude tremor that struck near Mandalay, claiming thousands of lives, destroying tens of thousands of homes, and causing widespread devastation across Sagaing, Mandalay, and other regions. Pakistan’s timely humanitarian aid, including relief supplies and support through international channels, was warmly acknowledged as a testament to enduring friendship.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, underscoring the high priority accorded to this engagement.
The courtesy call builds on productive discussions held a day earlier between Foreign Minister Dar and Union Minister U Than Swe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those talks covered the full spectrum of bilateral relations, with both sides pledging to bolster cooperation in economy, agriculture, livestock, manufacturing, trade, technology, healthcare, and culture.
A key outcome was the signing of an Arrangement for the Establishment of Foreign Office Consultations, creating a structured mechanism for regular dialogue on bilateral, regional, and international issues. Pakistan also reaffirmed its support for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Myanmar, expressing confidence in the country’s potential role in fostering regional reconciliation and shared development.
This visit—the first high-level Myanmar engagement in Islamabad in recent years—signals Islamabad’s strategic push to strengthen links with ASEAN nations amid evolving regional dynamics. With Myanmar marking 77 years of diplomatic relations with Pakistan in 2026, both sides appear poised to translate goodwill into tangible outcomes, including increased trade volumes, investment flows, religious tourism, and closer coordination in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Observers note that the renewed momentum could open avenues for Pakistani businesses to explore opportunities in Myanmar’s recovering economy, while Myanmar benefits from Pakistan’s expertise in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. As Prime Minister Sharif emphasized broader people-to-people and academic ties, the visit lays a foundation for sustained, multifaceted partnership that contributes to peace and prosperity in South and Southeast Asia.=DNA
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