Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Monday sought to dispel speculation that Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina had demanded a formal apology from Pakistan for 1971 war atrocities as a condition to accept Islamabad’s invitation to participate in the Developing-8 (D-8) summit, here later this week.
Maintaining that no such condition had been placed when she visited Dhaka to invite Ms. Hasina, the Minister said: “I was received warmly by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. The Premier’s sister also sat in the meeting. It was good atmospherics.'”
Ms. Khar said doctors had advised Ms. Hasina not to undertake air travel because of an eye problem.
Ms. Khar also sought to dispel the notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin had snubbed Pakistan by cancelling a visit in October. She pointed out that Mr. Putin had cancelled visits to India and Azerbaijan around that time.