Dhaka: Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today announced that all outstanding bilateral issues, including those stemming from the events of 1971, will be addressed during the upcoming visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. “Each issue will be on the table,” Hossain told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy when asked if Bangladesh would raise the long-standing matters of a public apology from Pakistan and financial compensation related to the 1971 Liberation War.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Adviser stated that the interim government is adopting a ‘pragmatic approach’ in maintaining relations with Pakistan, emphasizing that Dhaka is open to discussing all unresolved matters when the two sides meet later this month. Dar is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on August 23 for a bilateral visit aimed at enhancing diplomatic coordination, with official talks with Adviser Touhid Hossain planned for August 24 alongside other engagements.
Bangladesh formally addressed the issues of Pakistan’s overdue apology and unsettled financial liabilities during Foreign Secretary-level consultations held in Dhaka on April 17. In response to a question, Adviser Hossain stressed that Bangladesh’s foreign policy decisions are directed by its national interests. “We do not decide how India develops its relations with Pakistan, and similarly, India does not decide how we engage with Pakistan,” he remarked.
Hossain warned against allowing one aspect of bilateral ties to obstruct progress in other areas. “We want to avoid a situation where one aspect of relations gets stuck because of another,” he noted. He also mentioned that Pakistan has shown a willingness to continue dialogue, following a resumption of talks after a 15-year pause in bilateral diplomatic engagement.
Dar’s previously scheduled visit to Dhaka in April was postponed due to escalating regional tensions after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir affected relations between Islamabad and New Delhi. The upcoming visit is anticipated to offer an opportunity for both sides to revisit key issues and explore opportunities for constructive cooperation.