First talks in 15 years: Bangladesh seeks Pakistan’s apology for 1971 atrocities
Bangladesh on Thursday raised “historically unresolved issues” and demanded a public apology from Pakistan over the 1971 atrocities as the two countries held their first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years in Dhaka.
Dhaka also asked Islamabad to pay USD 4.3 billion as its share from the combined assets at the time when East Pakistan split from West Pakistan in 1971 to form an independent Bangladesh.
“We have raised the historically unresolved issues with Pakistan,” Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M Jashim Uddin told reporters after the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting with Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch held at state guest house Padma.
Their talks came days ahead of Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka on April 27 and 28.
Jashim Uddin said the issues included “the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, equitable distribution of undivided assets, transfer of foreign aid funds sent for the victims of the 1970 cyclone, and a formal public apology for the genocide committed by the then Pakistani military in 1971”.
“We said this is the right time to settle the historical unsettled issues,” he said, adding these issues needed to be resolved to have a “solid foundation of our relations” for mutual benefits and interests.
Asked about Pakistan’s response to the call, Jashim Uddin said they would like to “remain engaged” with a positive outlook to discuss the unsettled issue in future.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said that both sides had a “constructive and forward-looking engagement in a cordial environment where the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral relations came under discussion, including political, economic and trade relations”.
It added that cooperation in agriculture, environment and education, cultural exchanges and defence relations were also discussed and new avenues of cooperation were explored by the two sides.
Later, Baloch called on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain separately.
Yunus emphasised strengthening relations with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials.
