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
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