Foreign secys hold talks in Islamabad

Bangladesh and Pakistan have pledged to give fresh impetus to bilateral relations and start a comprehensive partnership.
The commitment came during the fifth round of Pakistan-Bangladesh foreign secretary-level consultation in Islamabad yesterday.
Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes led Bangladesh at the talks while Pakistan was led by its Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. The last consultation was held in Dhaka in 2007.
During the three-hour discussion, the two sides held a detailed overview of the bilateral relations over a range of issues including politics, economy and trade, defence, cultural, educational and consular issues, said a Pakistan foreign ministry press release.
Sources said, the Bangladesh side reiterated the issues of Pakistan's apology for the 1971 genocide, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis and sharing of assets.
However, there was no official statement about Pakistan's position on those demands, the sources added.
Foreign ministry sources told The Daily Star that both sides had agreed to hold a senior official level meeting in next few months to implement the decisions taken in the talks.
Both agreed to initiate substantive preparatory work for leadership level visits and intensify consultation. Decision was also taken to hold foreign minister level meeting in next six months to pave the way for head of government level visit sometime in 2011.
Diplomatic sources said a distance had created in the bilateral relations between the two countries since after the government had taken the initiative to try the war criminals. Since then there had been no such top-level meeting or discussion at different levels.
The foreign secretaries also agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Economic Commission and bi-annual consultations at the senior officials' level.
Yesterday, Bangladesh side sought free trade and tariff waiver on Bangladeshi products, said sources.
According to official statistics, the balance of trade has been in favour of Pakistan for more than 19 years in the past.
Bangladesh exported goods and commodities worth $ 76 million to Pakistan during 2008-09 while Pakistan exported goods worth $ 288m in the same period to Bangladesh.
Both sides agreed to redouble efforts to promote trade and investments including joint ventures, and cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, science and technology, education and culture.
It was also decided to initiate cooperation in counter terrorism, counter narcotics and illicit drug trafficking as well as to take steps to facilitate visas and enhance connectivity by direct shipping and more air links.
The next round of Bilateral Consultations will be held in Dhaka in 2011. The dates will be decided through diplomatic channels.
MIJARUL MEETS PAK FM
Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has stressed the need for giving attention to the untapped areas of bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
He made the observation when Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes called on him in Islamabad yesterday.
Mahmood Qureshi said the two countries could achieve $ 1 billion two-way trade target, up from $ 364 million, in renewed efforts.
He hoped that political, cultural and economic cooperation between the two countries would strengthen further.
The Bangladesh foreign secretary earlier paid a courtesy call on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan.