CAIRO:
During a bilateral meeting in Cairo on Thursday, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Bangladesh wanted to resolve its longstanding grievances stemming from the 1971 war, which led to the country’s independence, and move forward in its relations with Pakistan. Shehbaz, who was in Egypt to attend the Developing Eight (D-8) Summit, held several meetings with leaders from the member countries, including Yunus.
In the meeting, Yunus expressed a desire to strengthen ties with Pakistan, stating that the issues related to the 1971 conflict had been recurring and it was time to resolve them to progress. Both leaders agreed to enhance bilateral relations through increased trade, commerce, and cultural exchanges. Yunus also indicated his intention to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which has been stalled due to India’s reluctance to engage with Pakistan. Yunus emphasized the importance of holding a SAARC summit, even if symbolic, to send a powerful message of unity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the meeting as warm and cordial, highlighting the commitment to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He suggested that the two countries explore opportunities to boost trade, particularly in sectors like chemicals, cement, surgical goods, leather, and IT. Shehbaz also expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for facilitating trade and easing travel arrangements for Pakistani citizens, including removing additional visa clearance requirements and physical inspection of consignments.
The leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive developments in their relationship and committed to further cooperation. Shehbaz also participated in the D-8 Summit chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, where he met with other leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
In his meeting with Erdogan, Shehbaz reaffirmed support for each other’s national interests, including joint efforts on Kashmir and Cyprus, and discussed increasing economic collaboration in areas such as IT, agriculture, and green technology. Both leaders condemned the Israeli actions in Palestine and pledged continued support for the Palestinian cause.
With President Pezeshkian, Shehbaz emphasized the importance of operationalizing border markets between Pakistan and Iran and advancing cooperation in trade and infrastructure. The two leaders expressed hope that the outcomes of the D-8 Summit would lead to enhanced cooperation among the member states.
Shehbaz’s meeting with Indonesian President Subianto focused on strengthening bilateral relations and increasing economic and commercial ties, particularly with Indonesia’s support for Pakistan’s efforts to engage with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Both leaders also expressed unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
