Pakistan president wants to improve ties with Bangladesh

Wishing Bangladesh on its golden jubilee of independence, Pakistan President Arif Alvi has said his country “values” ties with Bangladesh and wants to expand cooperation, reported Dawn.

“Pakistan highly values its ties with Bangladesh and wants to further expand cooperation by using the existing bilateral mechanisms,” He said after meeting the Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh in Islamabad.

The envoy was called back for the briefing regarding the golden jubilee celebration in Bangladesh. The country, once the part of Pakistan, separated from it in 1971 through an armed struggle. India had played an important role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

The relationship between the two countries nosedived when in 2009, the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh had started the trial in domestic war crimes committed during the 1971 liberation war. The move was objected by Pakistan.

Despite having multiple bilateral mechanisms, the two countries have hardly had high-level contacts or discussions in the last decade. Both, the foreign secretary-level consultation and Joint Economic Commission, remained suspended for years now.

Alvi on Tuesday called for utilizing the all bilateral mechanism to enhance the ties.

During his meeting with the president, the Pakistani envoy briefed him about various initiatives taken by Pakistan to improve ties. He recalled that his country had removed all restrictions on Pakistani visas to Bangladeshis.

He called for improving business to business cooperation and people to people contacts for better ties.