Bangladesh and Pakistan bolster ties but war apology ‘unresolved’

Bangladesh and Pakistan, once bitter enemies after they split in 1971, agreed Sunday to bolster long-strained relations, including increasing trade.

But Dhaka said a key issue, of wanting an apology from Islamabad for atrocities during the war when East Pakistan broke away to form Bangladesh, remained “unresolved”.

“The scope and possibility of doing good for the two peoples of our two countries is tremendous,” said Islamabad’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the most senior Pakistani official to have visited Dhaka since 2012.

Pakistan’s military was accused of widespread atrocities during the 1971 war.

Hundreds of thousands were killed -– Bangladeshi estimates say millions — and many in Dhaka still demand Islamabad apologise for the killings.

Dhaka’s foreign affairs adviser Mohammad Touh