Bilateral relations with Pakistan were intentionally held back, says Foreign Affairs Adviser

PARBATTANEWS ONLINE DESK

Bangladesh’s interim government says relations with Pakistan were deliberately held back during the previous administration, the Foreign Affairs Adviser has said.

Touhid Hossain told reporters on Sunday the current government now wants to establish a “normal” relationship with Pakistan, similar to those with other friendly countries.

He was speaking at a press conference on Sunday, 24 August, at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

“Pakistan is one of our most important neighbours in South Asia. Our relationship with Pakistan is historical and multidimensional,” Hossain said.

“In today’s meeting, both I and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed our commitment to further advance this relationship in the future. We want to strengthen it on the basis of mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation,” he added.

When asked whether both countries shared the same position on unresolved issues, Hossain said each side had reiterated its own stance.

“I think the only progress is that we both agreed these issues need to be resolved through discussions so they do not stand as obstacles in our relationship,” he explained.

He went on to say, “I can assure you of one thing: there was one issue we discussed that you may consider as some progress. We presented our positions on three matters. Both sides agreed on one issue—that it must be resolved—so that our bilateral relations can move forward smoothly. For that, these matters need to be put behind us.”

The adviser stressed that Dhaka’s aim was straightforward. “We want a normal relationship with Pakistan, nothing more. Discussions are needed in all areas, including trade and commerce. From that perspective, the relationship is moving forward.”

Following the bilateral meeting, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that on the 1971 issue, there had already been the tripartite agreement of 1974 and an expression of regret by former Prime Minister Pervez Musharraf in 2002.

Asked whether Bangladesh agreed with this view, Hossain responded: “I certainly do not agree. If we agreed, then the issue would have been resolved in their way. As I have said, we stated our position, and they stated theirs.”