What Bangladesh Could Gain from Defence Industry Cooperation with Pakistan

Reading Time: 6 minutes Analysing Immediate, Mid-Term and Long-Term Opportunities Bangladesh’s defence transformation under the Forces Goal 2030 modernisation blueprint continues to reshape the country’s military posture. Over the past decade, Dhaka has methodically enhanced the technological and organisational depth of its armed forces while investing in domestic industrial capacity. The objective is not only to modernise the Bangladesh Armed Forces (BAF) but also to progressively localise sustainment and production across key sectors. While Bangladesh’s defence partnerships are already diversified—spanning China, Türkiye, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Italy—Pakistan represents a relatively underexplored yet potentially pragmatic partner. Both countries share complementary experiences: Pakistan has long operated a self-sustaining defence industry built on a diverse platform base, while Bangladesh has prioritised quality, precision manufacturing and cost-efficiency within specific domains. A structured, purpose-driven Bangladesh defence industry cooperation with Pakistan could help Dhaka address immediate operational needs, reinforce medium-term capability ambitions, and lay