Nepal, Dec. 16 -- Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Dhaka in August 2025 was characterised by cordial exchanges, positive messaging on regional cooperation, and the signing of six agreements. But when Bangladesh renewed its demand for an apology for the horrors of 1971, Dar maintained that the matter had already been 'settled twice', seemingly alluding to the 1974 Tripartite Agreement and Parvez Musharraf's 2002 'expression of regrets'. As Bangladesh celebrates its 54th birth anniversary today (December 16), the quintessential question of Pakistan's apology ought to resurface.

Dar's visit was a breakthrough in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations after the fall of the Hasina regime. However, his denial of apology reflects the dee...