In a chance meeting with an old acquaintance in Saudi Arabia after hajj, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman let it be known that Pakistan needs to apologize for the atrocities committed in 1971 to improve relations with Bangladesh.
Good meetings with Bangladesh President Mr Shahabuddin in Mecca, Mina & Madina. Below at Roza-e-Rasool. In white is my childhood friend Mr Salman Rehman, now Member Parliament, Minister & Advisor in BD. We met after 60 yrs. Blessings of Allah will do wonders for our relationship. pic.twitter.com/9QyDCLHixj
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) July 3, 2023
He relayed the message to Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi when they met in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, last Thursday, according to a press release from the adviser's office issued on Tuesday. This was after both had already tweeted about their encounter in Islam's second-holiest city. From the tweets, it seems that the pair were boyhood friends, but seeing each other again after some 60 years.
Bangladesh President Md Shahabuddin was also part of the gathering.
Pleasure meeting @ArifAlvi President of Pakistan in Masjid Nabawi. I was 12 years old when we last met. Brought back lots of fond childhood memories. I said to him we need an apology for 1971 in order to improve relations. We prayed for the welfare of the Ummah in the holy site. pic.twitter.com/VTSVw1v87m
— Salman F Rahman (@SalmanFRahmanMP) July 3, 2023
“Pleasure meeting @ArifAlvi President of Pakistan in Masjid Nabawi. I was 12 years old when we last met. Brought back lots of fond childhood memories. I said to him we need an apology for 1971 in order to improve relations. We prayed for the welfare of the Ummah in the holy site,” Salman tweeted on Monday.
In his own tweet, Alvi said he had a "good conversation" with Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin in Makkah, Mina and Madinah.
Calling Salman a "childhood friend,” Arif said: "We met after 60 yrs.”
Both heads of state and the PM's adviser performed hajj this year.
