"Resolve the 1971 Issues," Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus Urges Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif

Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, announced Thursday that he had "agreed to strengthen relations" with Pakistan, a decision that could further strain his country's already tense ties with India.

Once a unified nation, Pakistan and Bangladesh were separated after the brutal 1971 war, with Bangladesh subsequently aligning more closely with India, Pakistan's longstanding rival. However, relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have soured following the student-led revolution in August, which led to the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina's government, a regime supported by India. Hasina now lives in exile in India.

Yunus, who met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of a conference in Egypt, expressed his desire to address lingering issues stemming from Bangladesh’s violent separation from Pakistan in 1971. "The issues have resurfaced repeatedly," Yunus told Sharif, according to his office. "Let's resolve these matters so we can move forward."

Sharif described the meeting as a "warm and cordial exchange," adding that both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. They agreed to strengthen relations through increased trade, commerce, and cultural exchanges, according to Yunus’ office.

In a positive sign of improving ties, the first cargo ship in decades sailed directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh in November, successfully unloading its containers at the port of Chittagong.

The two leaders met during the Cairo summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, a group of eight Muslim-majority nations. Yunus also expressed his determination to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which has been largely stalled due to tensions between Pakistan and India. "This is a top priority," Yunus told Sharif. "I want a summit of SAARC leaders, even if it’s just for a photo session, because it would send a strong message."