No promises from Pakistan
Meeting of foreign secys stalls on genocide apology, stranded Pakistani repatriation, asset sharing
Pakistan once again avoided making any commitment to resolve long outstanding issues with Bangladesh, including apology for the 1971 genocide, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, and sharing of pre-separation period state assets.
Since independence, Bangladesh has been asking Pakistan to resolve the issues which also include transfer of foreign aid that was meant for cyclone victims of 1970, and payment of war reparations. But all successive Pakistani governments, including the present one, have completely ignored the request, except repatriation of a small number of stranded Pakistanis.
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes raised the issues again at the 5th round of Bangladesh-Pakistan Bilateral Consultations held in Islamabad on Monday. But conveying their position on the issues, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said "they remain open to continue discussion on these at all levels".
Diplomatic sources said Pakistan officials' assurances since independence are merely rhetorical. They did not take any initiative to resolve the issues. Full diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1976.
However, on Bangladesh's request, Pakistan agreed at the meeting to provide access to information and database particularly on geological surveys and archaeological excavations conducted by Pakistani agencies before 1971 in Mainamati, Chittagong, etc.
Mijarul led a seven-member Bangladesh delegation at the foreign secretary level consultations, which covered the entire range of bilateral relations.
Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, which issued a media release yesterday about the outcome of the consultations, however said the two sides agreed to give fresh thrust to promoting bilateral relations, and Pakistan suggested moving towards a comprehensive partnership.
Both sides recognised that there is an abundance of goodwill and potential for further development of relations. Pakistan agreed to the proposal of the Bangladesh foreign secretary for holding regular directors general level bi-annual meetings of the two foreign ministries.
They agreed to redouble efforts to achieve US$1 billion target set for bilateral trade, and to address the issues of market access, trade facilitation, and removal of tariff barriers for export of Bangladeshi products to Pakistan.
Bangladesh specifically sought duty free market access for value added jute products, and urged Pakistan to review its sensitive list. But there was no specific word from Pakistan regarding duty free access.
Both sides agreed on the need for easing visa procedures, and for enhancing connectivity through direct shipping and increasing the number of flights between the two countries.
Pakistan foreign secretary welcomed Bangladesh's proposal for undertaking joint initiatives to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Bangla poet Rabindranath Tagore, and the 100th birth anniversary of Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
Since independence, Bangladesh has been asking Pakistan to resolve the issues which also include transfer of foreign aid that was meant for cyclone victims of 1970, and payment of war reparations. But all successive Pakistani governments, including the present one, have completely ignored the request, except repatriation of a small number of stranded Pakistanis.
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes raised the issues again at the 5th round of Bangladesh-Pakistan Bilateral Consultations held in Islamabad on Monday. But conveying their position on the issues, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said "they remain open to continue discussion on these at all levels".
Diplomatic sources said Pakistan officials' assurances since independence are merely rhetorical. They did not take any initiative to resolve the issues. Full diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1976.
However, on Bangladesh's request, Pakistan agreed at the meeting to provide access to information and database particularly on geological surveys and archaeological excavations conducted by Pakistani agencies before 1971 in Mainamati, Chittagong, etc.
Mijarul led a seven-member Bangladesh delegation at the foreign secretary level consultations, which covered the entire range of bilateral relations.
Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, which issued a media release yesterday about the outcome of the consultations, however said the two sides agreed to give fresh thrust to promoting bilateral relations, and Pakistan suggested moving towards a comprehensive partnership.
Both sides recognised that there is an abundance of goodwill and potential for further development of relations. Pakistan agreed to the proposal of the Bangladesh foreign secretary for holding regular directors general level bi-annual meetings of the two foreign ministries.
They agreed to redouble efforts to achieve US$1 billion target set for bilateral trade, and to address the issues of market access, trade facilitation, and removal of tariff barriers for export of Bangladeshi products to Pakistan.
Bangladesh specifically sought duty free market access for value added jute products, and urged Pakistan to review its sensitive list. But there was no specific word from Pakistan regarding duty free access.
Both sides agreed on the need for easing visa procedures, and for enhancing connectivity through direct shipping and increasing the number of flights between the two countries.
Pakistan foreign secretary welcomed Bangladesh's proposal for undertaking joint initiatives to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Bangla poet Rabindranath Tagore, and the 100th birth anniversary of Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
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