Prospects of reconciliation between Pakistan and Bangladesh got an impetus when Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar visited Dhaka on August 23-24. It was the first visit of a Pakistani foreign minister to Dhaka in 13 years. During the visit, the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and resolve issues barring those emanating from the civil war in the then East Pakistan from March-December 1971.

Following the monsoon revolution in Bangladesh in August 2024 leading to regime change, a degree of paradigm shift took place in the Pak-BD relations. Yet, despite apparent warmth in their relations, Dhaka and Islamabad failed to initiate a reconciliation process. Bangladesh, reiterated its stance on an apology from Pakistan over the 1971 alleged atrocities; settlement of assets at the time of division; repatriation of standard Pakistanis (called Biharis); and returning the foreign aid that Islamabad received over the November 1970 cyclone.

In response, Pakistan's foreign minister urged Bangladesh to move on, arguing that the issues raised by Dhaka had been resolved during the tripartite talks involving Bangladesh, India and Pakistan on April 9, 1974. But, caretaker foreign minister of Bangladesh Tauhid Hossain differed with the viewpoint of his Pakistani counterpart and made it clear that resolution of contentious issues remain a major impediment to full normalisation of relations with Islamabad. A similar stance had been adopted by him when Pakistan's foreign secretary had visited Dhaka a couple of months ago.

Bangladesh's Caretaker Chief Executive Dr Muhammad Yunus........

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