Bhutan–Pakistan relations
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations
| title = Bhutan – Pakistan relations
| party1 = Bhutan
| party2 = Pakistan
| filetype = png
| map = Bhutan Pakistan Locator (orthographic projection).png
| envoytitle1 =Ambassador-designate
| envoy1 =Rinchen Kuentsyl
| envoytitle2 =Ambassador
| envoy2 =Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
| mission1 =
| mission2 =
}}
Bhutan–Pakistan relations refer to foreign relations between Bhutan and Pakistan. Relations have been active at least since 2004. Both nations are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the United Nations. Neither country has a resident ambassador.
They are both Himalayan states and have two common neighbours – China and India. Bhutan has close relations with India while Pakistan has close relations with China. But Pakistan's relations with India are more tense, so India has at times viewed Pakistani approaches to Bhutan with suspicion.
History
{{expand section|date=August 2013}}
Bhutan and Pakistan have had links for centuries.{{cite web|last=Arif|first=Muhammad|title=A delegation of Bhutan's Buddhist Monks arrives to visit Pakistan|url=http://www.nihao-salam.com/news-detail.php?id=MjA1Nw==|work=Nihao-Salam|publisher=Pakistan-China Institute|access-date=6 August 2013|date=13 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323025245/http://www.nihao-salam.com/news-detail.php?id=mja1nw==|archive-date=23 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In 1971, Bhutan was one of the first countries to recognize the secession of East Pakistan as independent Bangladesh.{{cite web|url=http://www.dhakacourier.com.bd/?p%3D10193 |title=Bhutan King's visit to Bangladesh: Cementing Bilateral Partnership « Dhaka Courier |access-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215034337/http://www.dhakacourier.com.bd/?p=10193 |archive-date=15 December 2013 }}{{cite news|title=Pakistani Troops Open Major Drive|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/08/archives/pakistani-troops-open-major-drive-yahya-names-two-civilians-to-head.html|access-date=6 August 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=8 December 1971}}{{cite news|newspaper=The Altus Times-Democrat|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_nBDAAAAIBAJ&dq=bangladesh%20bhutan%20recognize&pg=2255%2C530825|title=Constitution Issued Rahman Resigns|date=11 January 1972}} The relations between these countries were established diplomatically in 1988. The Bhutan Ambassador to Dhaka is recognized as a non-resident Ambassador to Pakistan while Pakistan's High Commissioner for Bangladesh is simultaneously recognized as a non-resident Ambassador to Bhutan.{{Cite web |title=Bhutan-Pakistan Relations – Royal Bhutanese Embassy, Dhaka |url=https://www.mfa.gov.bt/rbedhaka/bhutan-pakistan-relations/#:~:text=Bhutan%20and%20Pakistan%20established%20diplomatic,non-resident%20Ambassador%20to%20Bhutan. |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.mfa.gov.bt}}
Scholarships
Trade
Major exports from Pakistan are cotton yarn, articles of textile materials, cotton fabric (woven), sports goods and leather. Imports by Pakistan include raw jute, crude rubber, oil seeds, cork and chemical materials/products. Economic cooperation between the two countries is minimal, owing to high freight rates and difficulties in accessing landlocked Bhutan.{{Cite web|url = https://www.mofa.gov.pk/publications/year_book_2004-05.doc|title = Yearbook 2004–2005|year = 2005|publisher = Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Government of Pakistan}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2008–2009 the total bilateral trade passed half a million US dollars.{{cite web|title=Bhutan|url=http://www.fpcci.com.pk/products/subcat_pdf_46.pdf|publisher=The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry|access-date=6 August 2013}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In the period 2007–2011 only 11 Pakistanis visited Bhutan as tourists.{{cite book|title=Statistical Yearbook of Bhutan 2012|year=2012|publisher=National Statistics Bureau – Royal Government of Bhutan|page=149|url=http://www.nsb.gov.bt/publication/files/pub10pp3748yo.pdf|access-date=6 August 2013|archive-date=20 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120191024/http://www.nsb.gov.bt/publication/files/pub10pp3748yo.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Visits
There have been regular contacts between the leaders of two countries at different International Forums{{which|date=June 2013}}, besides the SAARC Summits. Bhutan attended the 12th SAARC Summit at Islamabad in January 2004. On the sidelines of the Summit, the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan had bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Bhutan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.saarctourism.org/twelth-saarc-summit.html |title=Twelfth Saarc Summit Islamabad - SAARC Tourism.org |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003152846/http://www.saarctourism.org/twelth-saarc-summit.html |archive-date=3 October 2012 |url-status=dead }} In November 2004, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz headed an official delegation to Bhutan, which raised suspicions in their common neighbour, India, that Pakistan may attempt to sabotage Indian interests in Bhutan.{{cite web|last=Maitra|first=Ramtanu|title=Pakistan's Bhutan gambit worries Delhi|url=http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FK25Df03.html|work=Asia Times|access-date=6 August 2013|date=25 November 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802001308/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FK25Df03.html|archive-date=2 August 2012|url-status=dead}}
In March 2011, the Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigme Yoser Thinley led a three-day delegation to Pakistan and met with Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. They covered a range of bilateral issues including economic, commercial, investment, educational and cultural links.{{cite news|title=Pakistan, Bhutan vow to cement trade, tourism ties|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/03/20/story_20-3-2011_pg7_6|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130806035632/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/03/20/story_20-3-2011_pg7_6|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2013|access-date=6 August 2013|newspaper=Daily Times|date=20 March 2011}}{{cite web|title=Pakistan and Bhutan vow to boost ties in trade, tourism|url=http://www.pakwatan.com/latest_news1.php?id=1318|publisher=Pakwatan|access-date=6 August 2013|date=19 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713130556/http://www.pakwatan.com/latest_news1.php?id=1318|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
In June 2012, a delegation of Buddhist monks from Bhutan, travelling with the ambassador, was warmly received by Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who emphasized the need for personal and interfaith contact between the countries. In 2018, a Bhutanese delegation consisting of the Bhutanese Ambassador and Buddhist monks visited Buddhist heritage sites in Mardan District, Pakistan.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-29 |title=Bhutanese delegation visits Buddhist sites |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/335250-bhutanese-delegation-visits-buddhist-sites |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=The News International |language=en}}
Diplomatic representation
Neither country has a resident ambassador. The embassy of Pakistan in Bangladesh is accredited to Bhutan.{{Cite web |last= |title=Bhutan-Pakistan Relations – Royal Bhutanese Embassy, Dhaka |url=https://www.mfa.gov.bt/rbedhaka/bhutan-pakistan-relations/ |access-date=2022-12-04 |language=en-US}} As of 2022, the Ambassador-designate of Bhutan to Pakistan is Rinchen Kuentsyl, while Imran Ahmed Siddiqui is the Pakistani ambassador to Bhutan.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-13 |title=Ambassador of Pakistan to Bhutan (Resident in Dhaka) Mr. Imran Ahmed Siddiqui meets with Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr. Lotay Tshering during visit to Bhutan |url=https://www.app.com.pk/photos-section/ambassador-of-pakistan-to-bhutan-resident-in-dhaka-mr-imran-ahmed-siddiqui-meets-with-prime-minister-of-bhutan-dr-lotay-tshering-during-visit-to-bhutan/ |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=Associated Press of Pakistan}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Foreign relations of Bhutan}}
{{Foreign relations of Pakistan}}
{{Portal bar|Pakistan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhutan-Pakistan relations}}