DHAKA, Aug 5 (V7N) – Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday confirmed that all outstanding bilateral issues with Pakistan, including those stemming from the events of 1971, will be on the discussion table during the upcoming visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

“Each issue will be on the table,” he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy when questioned about whether Bangladesh would raise the long-pending matters of a public apology from Pakistan for the 1971 atrocities and financial compensation.

The Adviser said the interim government is adopting a “pragmatic approach” in its relations with Pakistan, emphasizing that Dhaka is open to engaging on all unresolved matters when the two sides meet later this month. Dar is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on August 23 for a bilateral visit, during which he will hold official talks with Adviser Touhid Hossain on August 24.

Bangladesh had formally raised the issues of Pakistan’s long-overdue apology and unsettled financial liabilities during Foreign Secretary-level consultations held in Dhaka on April 17, which were the first such talks in 15 years.

In response to a separate question, Adviser Hossain stressed that Bangladesh’s foreign policy decisions are guided by its own national interests. “We do not decide how India develops its relations with Pakistan, and similarly, India does not decide how we engage with Pakistan,” he said. He also cautioned against allowing one dimension of bilateral ties to hinder progress in other areas, stating, “We want to avoid a situation where one aspect of relations gets stuck because of another.”

Hossain noted that Pakistan has shown a willingness to engage in dialogue, following the recent resumption of talks. Dar’s previously scheduled visit in April was postponed due to heightened regional tensions after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The forthcoming visit is expected to provide both sides with an opportunity to revisit key issues and explore avenues for constructive cooperation.

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