In Talks With Pak, Bangladesh Seeks Public Apology For 1971 Atrocities
Dhaka:
Bangladesh raised “traditionally unresolved points” and sought a public apology from Pakistan over the 1971 atrocities as the 2 international locations held their first overseas secretary-level talks in 15 years right here on Thursday.
Dhaka additionally requested Pakistan to pay USD 4.3 billion as its share from the mixed belongings on the time when East Pakistan break up from Pakistan in 1971 to kind an impartial Bangladesh. The International Workplace Session (FOC) between Bangladesh International Secretary Jashim Uddin together with his visiting Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch takes place days forward of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and International Minister Ishaq Dar’s go to to Dhaka on April 27 and 28.
“We now have raised the traditionally unresolved points with Pakistan,” Uddin informed reporters after the FOC.
He mentioned the problems included “the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, equitable distribution of undivided belongings, switch of overseas help funds despatched for the victims of the 1970 cyclone, and a proper public apology for the genocide dedicated by the then Pakistani navy in 1971”.
“We mentioned that is the correct time to settle the historic unsettled points,” the Bangladesh overseas secretary mentioned, including these points wanted to be resolved for having a “stable basis of our relationships” for mutual advantages and pursuits.
Requested what was the Pakistani facet’s response to the decision, Uddin mentioned they wish to “stay engaged” with a constructive outlook to debate the unsettled challenge in future.
After the talks, held at state visitor home Padma, Baloch known as on Bangladesh’s interim authorities Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and International Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain individually.
The talks come amid a thaw between the 2 international locations after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August final yr.
The Yunus-led interim authorities seems to be taking part in down the function of Hasina’s father Mujibur Rehman within the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. The Indian Military took over 90,000 Pakistan troopers as prisoners in that battle.
In line with the overseas secretary, Dhaka additionally requested Pakistan to pay the unpaid USD 200 million overseas donation for victims of the then East Pakistan after the 1970’s cyclone.
Requested if the cash devaluation over the many years was considered in quoting the quantities, the overseas secretary mentioned the difficulty was simply tabled throughout the FOC and the main points are anticipated to come back up throughout the subsequent talks.
The overseas secretary mentioned the FOC mounted April 27 and 28 for Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and International Minister Ishaq Dar’s deliberate Bangladesh go to.
When requested if Dhaka was now leaning in the direction of Islamabad in comparison with its perceived tilt in the direction of New Delhi earlier, Uddin mentioned, Bangladesh supposed to construct a relation with Pakistan on the idea of “mutual respect” and “mutual profit”, and it was not a difficulty of tilting in the direction of any explicit nation.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
