Dhaka, Islamabad FOC likely in Sept after 5yrs hiatus
UNB
After over five years long gap, Bangladesh and Pakistan are likely to have a meeting of Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between the two countries in the first week of September, reports UNB.
The planned FOC was cancelled several times for various reasons, including diplomatic row between the two countries following the trial of war criminals in Bangladesh.
If not cancelled again, the FOC will be held in Dhaka on September 1-2, a diplomatic source told UNB on Wednesday night.
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque will hold the talks with his Pakistan counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary.
Chaudhry was scheduled to visit Dhaka late February to join the FOC with his Bangladesh counterpart.
The last bilateral consultation between the countries was held in Islamabad in 2010. The then Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes led the Bangladesh side in the talks.
Issues related to counterterrorism, violent extremism, participation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the upcoming Saarc Summit in Pakistan and other bilateral issues are likely to come up for discussions in the FOC, diplomatic sources said.
Bangladesh is likely to reiterate the issues of Pakistans apology for the 1971 genocide, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis and sharing of assets. If the FOC it takes place, the meeting will be an ice-melting one for the bilateral ties, as there has been serious diplomatic spat between the two countries centering executions of war criminals.
The participation of Bangladesh Prime Minister in the November Saarc Summit depends on the success of the FOC, diplomatic source said adding that the Prime Minister has already been invited to take part in the Saarc Summit.
Bangladesh recently lodged a strongly-worded protest with Pakistan for its remarks over the execution of war criminals Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed who sided with the Pakistan occupation forces committing atrocities against pro-liberation people.
The government said the unsolicitous comments were nothing less than brazen interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which was unacceptable and hoped that Pakistan would refrain from continuing such uncalled for statements.
There has been no high-level visit in the past few years between the two countries.
Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan skipped the recently held Saarc Home Ministers meeting in Islamabad but Bangladesh High Commissioner in Islamabad Tarik Ahsan represented Bangladesh at the meeting.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith is also going to skip Saarc Finance Ministers meeting to be held on August 25-26 in Islamabad citing his domestic compulsion. However, State Minister for Finance MA Mannan will represent Bangladesh though there is no final decision yet.
Meanwhile, Indian media reported that amidst escalating tension between India and Pakistan over the ongoing unrest in Kashmir Valley, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will not attend South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Finance Ministers summit in Islamabad.
India will reportedly be represented by Finance Secretary Shashikant Das at the regional summit.
