Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is on a visit to Bangladesh, which was being observed as an attempt to bring warmth to their ties. However, instead of warmth, the visit has witnessed strain after Pakistan refused to apologise for the torture of Bangladeshis in 1971. The Bangladeshi side has said they would not let the matter rest.
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On Sunday, Dar said talks over tendering an apology to Bangladesh were held in 1974 and 2002. His Bangladeshi counterpart, Md. Touhid Hossain, rejected Dar’s statements and expressed disagreement.
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The interim government of Bangladesh switched its loyalty to the Pakistani side after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh has made efforts to improve relations with Pakistan, as Muhammad Yunus met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif twice — once during the UNGA meet in New York and again during the D-8 Summit in Cairo. But the two nations still find it difficult to normalise relations due to unresolved matters related to 1971.
Bangladesh has sought an apology from Pakistan over the killings of Bengali-speaking people in 1971. The court has also asked Pakistan to take back its people. Additionally, it has demanded $4.52 billion for its share of undivided Pakistan’s pre-1971 assets.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister was on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh from 23 to 24 August at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart. In the afternoon Dar called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Bangladesh and Pakistan have signed one bilateral deal, 5 MoUs. The signing ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon in Dhaka, attended by Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain and Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar.
Earlier, Pakistan's Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Bangladesh's Adviser for Commerce Sk Bashir Uddin held in-depth discussions in Dhaka on Thursday to advance economic cooperation, mutual investments and strengthen bilateral trade ties, officials said on Friday.