CA Yunus urges Pakistan to resolve 1971 issues

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday urged his Pakistani counterpart to settle the issues of 1971 to help Dhaka move forward with its relationship with Islamabad, reports UNB.

"The issues have kept coming again and again. Let's settle those issues for us to move forward," Yunus told Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sharif said the 1974 tripartite agreement involving Bangladesh, Pakistan and India settled things, "but if there are other outstanding issues," he would be happy to look at them.

Prof Yunus said it would be nice to resolve things "once and for all for the future generations."

The Chief Adviser and Pakistan PM Sharif met on the sidelines of the D8 Summit and agreed to strengthen relations between the two countries through increased trade, commerce and exchange of sports and cultural delegations.

The two leaders also expressed their desire to extend cooperation in new areas such as the sugar industry and dengue management.

Prof Yunus and Sharif discussed issues of mutual interest, including the revival of the SAARC—a key feature of the foreign policy announced by the Chief Adviser after he took over as the head of the interim government.

The 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate also spoke about his government's plan to carry out "essential reforms" and hold the general election before mid-2026.

He said he is leading a consensus-building commission to hold dialogue on the reforms.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a strategic relationship between Dhaka and Islamabad. "We are really looking forward to strengthening our relationship with our brother-in-country Bangladesh," Sharif said.

He hailed Prof Yunus for his initiative to revive SAARC and Bangladesh to work on the possibility of holding a summit of the regional body.