RELATIONS between Pakistan and Bangladesh seem to be on a downhill course with both countries expelling each other’s diplomats.

The senior Bangladeshi diplomat, expelled by Islamabad recently, had to be a woman, because last month Pakistan recalled Farina Arshad, the political secretary at its high commission in Dhaka after Bangladesh accused her of having militant links.

Although there is much speculation in the media, we are still in the dark about why the Bangladeshi diplomat was asked to leave the country.

While Islamabad can legitimately claim to have simply reacted to the provocation by Dhaka, both governments need to sober up and ask each other — and themselves — in what way their tit-for-tat expulsions will promote mutual ties, or lead to a more stable South Asia.

That Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed came to power through an election that was deemed controversial by many is indeed Bangladesh’s internal matter.

What is cause for concern, however, is her obsession with the past in a manner that neither advances her country’s image abroad nor promotes internal peace and reconciliation.

The execution of a number of Bangladeshi nationals after trials that fell far short of international judicial standards has also strained ties with Pakistan and added to, instead of lessening, the acute polarisation in Bangladeshi politics and society.

In contrast, the people of the two countries have shown a more positive attitude, in fact friendlier sentiments, towards each other, as is often evident in Pakistan-Bangladesh cricket matches.

With Islamabad and New Delhi making determined efforts to not allow acts of terror, such as the one at Pathankot, to derail the peace process, it is time the leaderships in Dhaka and Islamabad also made fresh efforts to halt the downhill slide.

There is every reason for us to plead with Nawaz Sharif and Ms Wajed to end what is a thoroughly unnecessary diplomatic crisis. The next Saarc summit in Islamabad provides an excellent opportunity for the two to meet on the sidelines and sort things out.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2016