Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is gearing up for two significant overseas trips this month, as part of Pakistan’s ongoing push to strengthen its connections with important countries in the region.
According to the Foreign Office, Ishaq Dar will be heading to Kabul on April 19 for a one-day official visit, at the invitation of Afghanistan’s interim foreign minister. He’ll be accompanied by a high-level delegation during this trip.
While in Kabul, he’s expected to have some crucial meetings with Afghanistan’s Acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and other senior Afghan officials. The Foreign Office mentioned in a statement that the talks will cover “all aspects of Pak-Afghan relations,” showing Islamabad’s commitment to building lasting ties with their brotherly neighbors in Afghanistan.
Right after his Kabul trip, Ishaq Dar will then travel to Bangladesh from April 26 to 28 for a comprehensive diplomatic visit. The final schedule for his Dhaka trip was just wrapped up in meetings between Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch and Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka on Thursday.
The agenda for his three-day stay in Bangladesh is packed with discussions on boosting cooperation in areas like trade, economic partnerships, public diplomacy, defense, and security.
Also Read: Bangladesh demands apology from Pakistan over 1971 war: reports
Diplomatic insiders are saying that Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka is a big step towards improving the relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with both countries looking to re-energize their diplomatic and economic ties in the years ahead.
Earlier, international media reports indicated that Bangladesh has formally asked Pakistan for an apology regarding the events of the 1971 war, during a recent meeting between the foreign secretaries of both countries in Dhaka.
Apparently, Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen brought up this issue during bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Amina Baloch, who is currently in Dhaka. Along with the apology, Dhaka is also seeking the settlement of $4.52 billion, which they claim is owed to them since their independence.
Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen reportedly stated that resolving these historical and financial issues is vital for improving their bilateral relationship.
“Normalizing our relations depends on addressing these longstanding matters,” he is quoted as saying, adding that both sides also discussed trade and investment opportunities during the meeting.
The Bangladeshi government emphasized the importance of overcoming any obstacles that are hindering their bilateral ties and called for a forward-thinking approach when dealing with any unresolved disputes.
