ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday downplayed reports that Bangladesh raised contentious demands during the recently-resumed foreign secretary-level talks, stating that both countries shared their positions on unresolved matters in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.

`Some outstanding issues were indeed discussed during the consultations. However, both sides stated their respective positions on them in an environment of mutual understanding and respect,` Foreign Office Spokesman Shafgat Ali Khan said at the weekly media briefing.

The sixth round of PakistanBangladesh foreign secretary-level bilateral consultations was held in Dhaka on Thursday, marking the first such engagement in 15 years.

Led by Pakistan`s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and her Bangladeshi counterpart Md. Jashim Uddin, the meeting reflected what the Foreign Office described as a shared resolve to revitalise ties underpinned by common cultural and historical affinities.

`Historically unresolved issues` Officials discussed a wide range of areas including trade, education, agriculture, and connectivity. Despite the broadly positive tone, controversy followed comments by Bangladesh`s foreign secretary afterthe talks.

In a post-meeting briefing, Jashim Uddin said he had raised demands for a formal apology from Pakistan for the1971 war, along with compensation claims amounting to $4.5 billion.

`I have raised the existing historically unresolved issues with Pakistan, including repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, Bangladesh`s fair share of undivided wealth, transfer of foreign aid money sent for the victims of the 1970 cyclone, and a formal apology for the genocide committed by the then Pakistani armed forces in 1971,` Uddin said.

He added that Pakistan had shown `willingness` for future dialogue on these matters. Pakistan`s longstanding position on this issue is that the matter of apology was settled under the Tripartite Agreement of 1974.

At the time, then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had `appealed to the people of Bangladesh to forgive and forget the mistakes of the past, in order to promote reconciliation`.

Pakistan believes that Bangladesh`s leadership at that time had similarly signalled a desire to move forward, Mr Khan said.

`The Foreign Secretary level consultations took place in a very cordial and constructive atmosphere. The conduct of these consultations after a gap of15 years is a testimony to the existing goodwill and cordiality between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Such misleading reports must not undermine the significance of this important development in bilateral relations.

The evolving political dynamics in Bangladesh particularly following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in student-led protests have created new diplomatic space for engagement between the two nations.

Relations had remained strained for decades due to lingering grievances from Bangladesh`s 1971 separation. In Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch also met Chief Adviser Prof.

Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Adviser. Touhid Hossain.