Bangladesh And Pakistan Resume Direct Flights After 14 Years, What Does It Mean For India?

Last Updated:January 31, 2026, 16:06 IST

Bangladesh and Pakistan resume direct flights after 14 years, amid defence talks on JF-17 jets and political changes in Dhaka, signaling a major reset in South Asian relations.

A plane of Biman Bangladesh Airlines is seen after landing at Jinnah Airport in Karachi on January 30, 2026. Direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan resumed after more than a decade, as ties warm between the two nations that have long had an uneasy relationship. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP)

In a notable shift in South Asian geopolitics, Bangladesh and Pakistan have officially resumed direct passenger air connectivity after a 14-year gap, marking a thaw in ties that had been strained for years and historically antagonistic for decades.

The revival of flights coincides with high-level talks on a potential multi-million-dollar defence deal, underscoring a broader reset in bilateral relations.

Water salute in Karachi

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft from Dhaka landed at Jinnah Airport on Thursday to a traditional water salute, marking the end of a suspension of direct operations that had lasted since 2012. Pakistan’s Airport Authority called the arrival the start of a “new chapter" in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations.

Biman will operate non-stop flights twice weekly on Thursdays and Saturdays. The Dhaka–Karachi service departs at 8:00 pm local time and arrives at 11:00 pm, while the return flight leaves Karachi at midnight and reaches Dhaka at 4:20 am. The services are operating under a provisional licence valid until March 30, during which authorities will assess long-term viability.

Political backdrop

The rapid rapprochement follows major political changes in Dhaka after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024. Hasina, long viewed as pro-India, left office after student-led protests and is now in exile in India. An interim administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is preparing for elections next month, with Hasina’s party banned.

Defence talks: JF-17s on the table

In parallel, Islamabad has formally offered JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter jets jointly developed by China and Pakistan to Bangladesh. The proposal was discussed in Islamabad between Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasan Mahmood Khan.

Pakistan has also assured Dhaka of fast-tracked delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, along with training and support packages. The outreach aligns with Pakistan’s push to expand defence exports, following a recently finalised deal with Libya and ongoing talks with Azerbaijan.

Implications for India

The warming ties carry implications for India, which has seen relations with both neighbours cool in recent months. One immediate issue is airspace: the shortest Dhaka–Karachi route passes through central Indian airspace, and it remains unclear whether Biman has secured overflight permissions from New Delhi. For now, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has cleared designated corridors within Pakistani airspace.

Adding momentum, private Pakistani carriers, including Fly Jinnah and AirSial, have received approval from Bangladeshi authorities to operate direct services, suggesting the connectivity push may widen.

For Islamabad, a potential JF-17 sale would also serve as a showcase for the jet’s capabilities, claims Pakistan says were borne out during past confrontations, including operations following India’s actions against Pakistan-based militant targets last year.

Together, the flight restart and defence discussions point to a rapid recalibration of Dhaka–Islamabad ties, reshaping regional equations at a sensitive moment for South Asia.

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