Author / Source : Diplomatic Correspondent
Pakistan has agreed to discuss all outstanding historic issues with Bangladesh including Dhaka’s demand for an apology for the genocide committed by the Pakistan Army in 1971. Pakistan foreign secretary Salman Bashir said this during a two-day annual consultations meeting that started on Monday in Islamabad.
A foreign ministry press release said on Tuesday that during the meeting, Bangladesh foreign secretary Mijarul Quayes raised the long outstanding historic issues, namely, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, division of assets, transfer of foreign aid that was meant for the cyclone victims of 1970, apology for the genocide committed by the Pakistan Army in 1971 and war reparations.
While conveying the stated position of Pakistan on the issues, Salman Bashir also stated that they remained open to discussions on these at all levels.
Mijarul Quayes led a seven-member Bangladesh delegation in the fifth round of Bangladesh-Pakistan foreign secretary level bilateral consultations and Salman Bashir led the Pakistan team. The consultations covered the full range of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan. The two sides agreed to give a fresh impetus to promoting bilateral relations, and Pakistan suggested moving towards a comprehensive partnership.
The consultations lasted for three-hours during which the outstanding issues between the two countries were raised by the Bangladesh foreign secretary.
Both sides recognised that there was abundance of goodwill and potential for further development of bilateral relations. They further agreed on the need to hold the next session of JEC at an early date. The Pakistan side also agreed to the proposal of the Bangladesh foreign secretary that, additionally, regular meetings between directors general of the two foreign ministries be held on a
bi-annual basis.
Both sides agreed on the importance of exchange of visits at all levels including the political leadership. They agreed to redouble efforts to achieve the US $1-billion target set for bilateral trade, and discuss market access, trade facilitation and removal of tariff barriers for export of Bangladesh products in Pakistan market. Bangladesh specifically sought duty-free market access for value-added jute products and urged Pakistan to review its sensitive list.
Both sides agreed to promote investments between the two countries including joint ventures, and cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, science & technology, education and culture.
They agreed on the need to ease visa procedures and enhance connectivity by direct shipping and through increased flights between the two countries. The two sides agreed to initiate cooperation in counter-terrorism and other security-related issues.
On Bangladesh's request Pakistan agreed to provide access to information and database particularly on geological survey and archaeological excavation conducted by Pakistani agencies before 1971 in Mainamati, Chittagong etc.
Both sides agreed to promote cultural exchange between two countries including visits of artists, painters, musicians, singers, academics and writers. Pakistan foreign secretary welcomed the Bangladesh proposal to undertake joint initiatives to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, and also the 100 birth anniversary of Poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
The Bangladesh foreign secretary invited his Pakistani counterpart to Dhaka in 2011 for the sixth round of foreign secretary level bilateral consultations. The Pakistan foreign secretary accepted the invitation.
Later in the afternoon, the Bangladesh foreign secretary called on the Pakistan foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmud Qureshi and the state minister of foreign affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan at the foreign office in Islamabad.
The Bangladesh foreign secretary provided an overview of the discussions held during the morning consultations with his counterpart. He briefed them especially on the discussions related to outstanding historic issues, and underscored the need for resolving these issues and to take bilateral relations forward.
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