F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, on Saturday arrived in Dhaka, on a landmark official visit from 23–24 August, at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
At Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister was received by Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haider, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Khan and officials of Pakistan High Commission, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.
The visit is a significant milestone in bilateral relations as a Pakistani foreign minister is visiting Bangladesh after a gap of around 13 years, Foreign office Spokesperson said in a press statement.
During the visit, the DPM/FM will hold important meetings with the Bangladeshi leadership, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md. Touhid Hossain, and Adviser for Commerce SK Bashir Uddin.
“Discussions will encompass the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation including regional and international issues of mutual interest,” it was added.
A day earlier, Dar said that Pakistan is ready for comprehensive dialogue with India, including the Kashmir issue.
Speaking to senior journalists, Dar stated that the ceasefire between Pakistan and India is continued. He revealed that India had requested the United States to help initiate the ceasefire, and he received a call from the US on the matter. “I made it clear that Pakistan never wanted war,” he added.
Dar emphasised that Pakistan never asked for mediation, but discussions about meeting at a neutral venue were proposed. “I said if it’s a neutral location, we can proceed with talks,” he noted.
He firmly stated that any negotiations with India would not be on a single-point agenda.
