Commissioner in Dhaka was recently summoned to condemn various statements coming from Islamabad related to the hangings of two Bangladeshi politicians.
“Pakistan and Bangladesh enjoy brotherly relations and share historic bonds. Our concern over the developments there are in that light. Our relations are independent of influence of any other country and do not depend on the state of Pakistan’s relations with any third country,” said the spokesman.
He emphasized on the fact that there is need for reconciliation in Bangladesh in accordance with the spirit of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh Agreement of 9 April 1974, which calls for a forward looking approach in matters relating to 1971.
“This would foster goodwill and harmony. We have emphasized this earlier as well. We have also expressed concern in the past with regard to developments in Bangladesh relating to events of 1971,” he added.
To a query, the spokesman clarified a news report that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif nearly called off his US visit.“Before a high-level visit, it is normal practice for the sides to engage on various issues in the bilateral context. Draft joint statement/communique is also subjected to the same process of bilateral consultations and its contents are negotiated. Each side has its own priorities and, in the process of negotiations, they reach a stage where the text is acceptable to both sides. This is what happened in the context of various issues that were discussed prior to and during the prime minister’s visit to the US,” the spokesman clarified.
To reports that India might get access into the NSG, the spokesman reiterated Pakistan’s position and said that the NSG should follow an “objective, equitable and non-discriminatory approach for admitting new members”.
He lauded and welcomed the recent remarks made by the NSG chair, Ambassador Rafael Grossi, widely reported in India during his visit last month, wherein he ruled out a “tailor made India-specific solution” for NSG membership.
“A high-level Pakistani delegation also held a constructive meeting with NSG Troika in Vienna. Pakistan, therefore, will continue to call for the adoption of a non-discriminatory and objective criteria-based approach on expansion of NSG membership for non-NPT countries,” said the spokesman.