Pakistan to remain engaged on historical issues, including apology for 1971 genocide, repayment of $4.5b: FS Jashim
"Unsettled issues need to be resolved to put bilateral ties on a solid foundation," said Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin during a press briefing following the foreign office consultations between the two countries.
Pakistan will remain engaged with Bangladesh to resolve historically unsettled issues, including an official apology for the 1971 genocide, the repayment of $4.5 billion owed to Bangladesh, and the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis.
"Unsettled issues need to be resolved to put bilateral ties on a solid foundation," said Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin during a press briefing following the foreign office consultations between the two countries.
He added that this is the most opportune time to address and resolve these long-standing issues.
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During the meeting, the Bangladesh side raised the above-mentioned historical unsettled issues with Pakistan.
"These issues need to be resolved for having a solid foundation of our relations," Jashim said.
Asked what the reply from the Pakistan side was, the Foreign Secretary said they assured them of remaining engaged with Bangladesh in the coming discussions. "They (Pakistan) would like to remain engaged. Our aim was to flag the issues," he said.
The foreign secretary said Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on 27-28 April, reports UNB.
He hoped that direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan would be launched soon.
The foreign secretary said Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain separately and discussed issues of mutual interest.
Earlier, Bangladesh and Pakistan held Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) at the State guesthouse Padma as the two South Asian countries are keen to strengthen their ties.
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led their respective delegation at the FOC.
The FOC marks the first such meeting since 2010.
Director General of South Asia Wing at Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Ishrat Jahan and High Commissioners of Bangladesh and Pakistan also attended the meeting.
Pakistan wanted to hold the consultations with Bangladesh as part of Islamabad's efforts to strengthen the ties with Dhaka.
Ishaq Dar's upcoming trip to Dhaka will mark the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister since 2012.
