1971 issues resolved twice, claims Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has claimed that the unresolved issues stemming from the 1971 Liberation War have been addressed on two separate occasions—first in 1974 and later during the visit of former President Pervez Musharraf in the early 2000s.

He made the statement following a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka on Sunday (August 24).

Responding to a question on whether the 1971 issues were discussed, Dar said, “The matter was settled first in 1974 through a historic agreement. It was resolved again during General Musharraf’s visit, when the issue was addressed openly.”

Bangladesh continues to consider several matters unresolved, including a formal apology for the 1971 genocide, compensation for war damages, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, settlement of asset shares, and repayment of international aid provided to then East Pakistan during the 1970 cyclone.

These issues are expected to be raised during high-level diplomatic engagements.