Keen on boosting ties with Bangladesh: Pakistan defence minister
The minister's comments come in the backdrop of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 tourists dead
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Friday that he was keen on strengthening bilateral ties with Bangladesh adding that both countries were prioritising on boosting economic, political, and cultural cooperation.
His comments come in the backdrop of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 tourists dead. The ties between India and Bangladesh have also nosedived over India’s move to shelter ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina after she fled the country following a violent student’s agitation last year.
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Independence Day event
Speaking at a reception to celebrate the 54th National and Independence Day of Bangladesh as the chief guest on Friday, Asif referred to the cordial ties between his country and Bangladesh adding that both countries were keenly working for furthering economic, political, and cultural cooperation, reported Geo News.
“We value our relations with Bangladesh and look forward to deepening our engagement in various sectors,” Asif said as he extended greetings to the government and people of Bangladesh. He emphasised the necessity to further strengthen relations to enhance “development cooperation between the people of both countries.”
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Foreign secy-level talks
Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led their respective sides and discussed the entire range of bilateral issues focusing on trade ties during the Foreign Office Consultation on April 17.
Bangladesh raised “historically unresolved issues” and demanded a public apology from Pakistan over the 1971 atrocities during the FOC and asked Islamabad to pay USD 4.3 billion as its share from the combined assets at the time when East Pakistan split from West Pakistan in 1971 to form an independent Bangladesh.
The foreign secretary-level talks were held amid a thaw between the two countries after the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year.
(With inputs from agencies)
