ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan have expressed regrets over the reported decision of Bangladesh not to participate in the forthcoming Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore. A spokesman of the Foreign Office said today [Feb 6] that the condition of prior recognition advanced by Bangladesh for participation … amounted to an attempt to seek narrow political advantage.

This … was unfortunate. The Islamic Sum­mit would bring together the leaders of Mus­li­­­m peoples to serve a cause of the entire Muslim world which transcended the particular interest of any participant. … While the Islamic Conference would not deal with issues of a bil­a­­teral nature, it could have fostered an atmosphere favourable to the resolution of the outstanding differences between Pakistan and Bangladesh over the question of the 195 Pak­istani prisoners of war and recognition. This opportunity, the spokesman added, would be lost if Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “does not att­end the Islamic Summit”. Dr Kamal Hos­sain, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh … had said that Bangladesh would not take part in the … Conference. … Sheikh Mujib [had said] … Bangladesh could not attend … until Pakistan had recognised the country.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2024