In a historic meeting, Bangladesh put long-standing complaints to Pakistan, and demanded that they issue a public apology for the war crimes of 1971 when East Pakistan separated to form an independent Bangladesh. Talks on Thursday marked the first foreign secretary-level talks between the two nations in 15 years, which paved the way for the settlement of historical grievances.
Demands for Apology and Compensation
During the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC), Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin informed journalists that the nation had presented Pakistan with a number of “historically unresolved issues.” These included a call for an official public apology for the genocide perpetrated by the Pakistani army in 1971. Uddin underscored that it was important to deal with these complaints in order to build a good foundation for the two countries’ future relations.
In addition, Bangladesh requested that Pakistan reimburse it with USD 4.3 billion, which is its portion of assets during the 1971 breakup. This demand is related to the economic issues that emerged after East Pakistan turned into Bangladesh. “We have raised the historically outstanding issues with Pakistan,” Uddin confirmed, emphasizing that settling the issues would open the way to closer bilateral relationships.
Unresolved Issues from 1971 Conflict
The talks also brought up other unresolved matters, including the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, the fair distribution of undivided assets, and the transfer of foreign aid funds meant for the victims of the 1970 cyclone. Uddin highlighted that the time was ripe to settle these issues, which would be vital in laying the groundwork for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
Pakistan’s Response and Future Engagement
Speaking to Pakistan‘s reaction to the offer of an apology, Uddin said the Pakistani side requested that they maintain engagement and opt for a constructive approach to continuing discussions on the outstanding issues. Nevertheless, no short-term resolution was reported to have been arrived at on sensitive issues raised by the foreign secretary.
After the discussions at the Padma State Guest House, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch also called on Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain. These are part of the general thawing of relations between the two nations, following the political shift in Bangladesh after the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina last year.
Focus on Mutual Respect and Benefit
Uddin explained that Bangladesh’s strategy towards Pakistan is one of mutual respect and advantage, and not any direction towards any particular country. This was in response to queries of whether Bangladesh was changing its foreign policy orientation, particularly since its traditional closeness to India. He reassured that the nation seeks to develop relations with Pakistan founded on common respect and mutual benefit.
Upcoming Diplomatic Visit
The FOC meeting paved the way for a visit to Dhaka by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, on April 27-28. The visit is likely to give additional chances to sort out the problems flagged in the course of the talks and to make progress to settle the unresolved issues.
