Pak FM in Dhaka: NCP calls for dealing '71 issues to advance ties, Jamaat leaves it for two govts

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka today (23 August) on a two-day official visit, opening his trip with back-to-back meetings with leaders of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP).

Asked by the media after the meeting whether the unresolved issues of 1971 were discussed, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdullah Muhammad Taher said, "These matters are for the two governments to discuss. We hope the government will take them up."

Regarding the issues, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain told journalists, "We raised this matter with them during the meeting. We believe that in order to enhance relations with Bangladesh, Pakistan must address the issue of 1971."

Later, addressing a press conference at the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka, Ishaq Dar extended an invitation to everyone in the gathering to visit Pakistan to engage with their counterparts and contribute to this "new phase of our reinvigorated partnership".

The deputy PM said he wanted to underscore the federal government's "strong desire to forge a cooperative and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh", reports Dawn.

Dar said Pakistan is committed to engaging with all stakeholders, including the government, political parties, academia, civil society, media and the youth for the realisation of common goals, including peace, progress and prosperity of the two nations and the region.

The foreign minister also noted that the two nations enjoyed a commonality of views on many regional and international issues, such as the revival of the Saarc.

"We must work together to create an environment where youth from Karachi to Chittagong, Quetta to Rajshahi, Peshawar to Sylhet and Lahore to Dhaka join hands to face these challenges and realise their shared dreams," he said.

Ishaq Dar's visit, marking the first state visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in 13 years, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. He landed in the capital around 2pm on a special flight.

He will hold bilateral talks with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain this morning. He will also meet Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin tomorrow.

As the deputy premier departed from the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the Pakistan foreign ministry wrote on X that Dar embarked on a "historic visit to Bangladesh". 

"The visit is a significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations as a Pakistani foreign minister is visiting Bangladesh after a gap of around 13 years," the ministry highlighted.

Meeting with BNP

A six-member delegation of the BNP held a meeting with Ishaq Dar. The meeting began at 6pm at the Pakistan Embassy in Dhaka, confirmed Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP's media cell.

The BNP delegation included the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Begum Selim Rahman, Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, and Organising Secretary Shama Obayed.

Speaking to TBS about the meeting, Shama Obayed said discussions focused on improving Bangladesh-Pakistan relations and ways to deepen them further. She added that the talks also covered reviving Saarc, while Pakistan expressed its wish to see fair elections.

Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to meet BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia tomorrow. The meeting will take place at 7:30pm at Khaleda Zia's residence in Gulshan.

Other issues at Jamaat, NCP meetings

Taher told reporters that the talks centred on regional trade ties and a revival of Saarc. He criticised Bangladesh's past foreign policy as "one-sided", saying the party believed in balanced relations with all.

He also underlined the need for Muslim nations to adopt a united stance on global challenges, including the Palestinian crisis. 

Pakistan's foreign ministry, commenting on the meeting, said Dar praised Jamaat leaders for their "courage and steadfastness" despite political adversity.

Meanwhile, NCP's Akhtar Hossain said their talks reflected a desire to move beyond the "hostile relations of the past". 

He noted that cooperation in education and health was discussed, stressing that relations in South Asia should be "fraternal, without any hegemony".