Pakistan's statement drops Dhaka's apology, compensation demands

After the foreign secretary-level meeting, Bangladesh widely publicized issues such as an apology for the atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War or the demand for dues related to pre-independence joint assets. However, the statement from Pakistan made no mention of these unresolved issues.

On Thursday, a formal Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) was held between the two countries at the secretary level in Dhaka.

Following the meeting — the first in a decade and a half — Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin stated in a briefing that Bangladesh sought resolutions to unresolved issues in order to strengthen relations with Islamabad.

He said that Bangladesh demanded $4.32 billion from Pakistan as compensation for pre-independence compensations.

In addition, Dhaka raised the issue of a formal apology for the atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War in the FOC.

A day later, on Friday, Pakistan issued a press release regarding the sixth foreign secretary-level meeting.

It stated that the meeting reflected a joint commitment to revitalise bilateral relations between the two countries.

Although the meeting in Dhaka reportedly discussed various aspects of Bangladesh-Pakistan bilateral relations, condemnation of Israeli attacks in Gaza, and even the issue of Jammu and Kashmir being under India's “illegal occupation” and its resolution — the press release made no mention of an apology for the genocide during the Liberation War or the matter of compensations.

Following the meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin said that unresolved issues discussed included “repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, equitable distribution of undivided assets, transfer of foreign aid funds sent for victims of the 1970 cyclone, and a formal public apology for the genocide committed by the then Pakistani military in 1971”.

“According to one earlier estimate by Bangladesh, the dues amount to $4 billion, and by another, $4.32 billion. We mentioned this during the discussion,” he added.

However, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry did not spend a single word on these issues.

In its press release, Islamabad focused more on future possibilities than past issues.

According to their statement, the discussion included the countries’ cultural ties and shared history and public aspirations.

“The meeting included detailed discussions on political, economic, cultural, educational, and strategic cooperation,” the press release stated.