Islamabad [Pakistan]: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday called for improved relations with India, stating, “it takes two to tango,” as reported by ARY News. Dar highlighted the importance of creating a conducive environment to enhance trade ties between the neighboring nations.
Speaking at a press conference focused on Pakistan’s economic recovery and diplomatic initiatives, Dar underscored the necessity of fostering better relations with India to address trade challenges.
Pakistan’s economy has been struggling due to a combination of factors, including the 2022 floods, high inflation, political instability, and structural issues. These crises have worsened food and energy shortages, forcing the country to rely on loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and allies such as Saudi Arabia and China. The suspension of trade with India has further strained Pakistan’s low foreign exchange reserves, as importing goods from distant countries proves costly.
In another development, Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the D-8 summit in Cairo on December 19. The leaders discussed enhancing bilateral ties through increased trade, commerce, and cultural exchanges.
In a Facebook post, Yunus stated that he and Sharif agreed to strengthen relations. Yunus’s Special Envoy, Lutfey Siddiqi, extended an invitation for Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to visit Bangladesh in February during a planned Malaysia tour, which Dar accepted.
The meeting also addressed longstanding issues between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Yunus urged Sharif to resolve the historical disputes stemming from 1971 to enable both nations to move forward. “The issues have kept coming again and again. Let’s settle those issues for us to move forward,” Yunus remarked. He emphasized the importance of resolving matters “once and for all for the future generations.”
PM Sharif echoed the sentiment, expressing optimism about fostering stronger ties with Bangladesh. “We are really looking forward to strengthening our relationship with our brother-in-country Bangladesh,” Sharif said, according to Yunus’s post.