Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain -File Photo

DHAKA, Aug 4, 2025 (BSS) - Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today said all outstanding bilateral issues, including those rooted in 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 asked whether Bangladesh would raise the long-pending matters of a public apology from Pakistan and financial compensation related to the 1971 Liberation War.

The Adviser said the interim government is taking a “pragmatic approach” in maintaining relations with Pakistan, noting 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 on a bilateral visit aimed at enhancing diplomatic coordination. 

He will hold official talks with Adviser Touhid Hossain on August 24 alongside other engagements.

Bangladesh 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.

Responding to a question, Adviser Hossain emphasized 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. 

“We want to avoid a situation where one aspect of relations gets stuck because of another,” he noted.

Hossain said Pakistan has shown a willingness to remain engaged in dialogue, following a resumption of talks after a 15-year hiatus in bilateral diplomatic engagement.

Dar’s earlier scheduled visit to Dhaka in April was postponed due to rising regional tensions after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir strained relations between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The forthcoming visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to revisit key issues and explore avenues for constructive cooperation.