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THE bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh is currently experiencing a deep freeze, as the Awami League-led government in Dhaka seeks to resuscitate the ghosts of 1971, with Islamabad replying in a similar tone. In the latest sign that ties are far from cordial, the Pakistani delegation decided to boycott a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union that kicked off in Dhaka on Saturday. According to a report in this paper, Pakistani diplomats and foreign ministry officials said the situation was “not conducive” for Pakistani lawmakers to participate in the moot. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also confirmed that the Pakistani delegation would not be attending. Moreover, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has also turned down its Pakistani counterpart’s invitation to tour this country citing “inadequate” security arrangements.
Pakistan-Bangladesh relations have taken a nosedive ever since Sheikh Hasina Wajed started her current stint as prime minister. And with Narendra Modi’s rightist government calling the shots in New Delhi, Ms Wajed’s hard line towards Pakistan has been emboldened. Last year’s Saarc summit in Islamabad was postponed as Bangladesh was among the regional states that had pulled out apparently due to Indian pressure. And on March 25, Dhaka observed ‘genocide day’ to mark the tragic events of 1971. What is more, it has been reported that Bangladesh will write to the UN to observe every March 25 as ‘genocide day’. These moves will do little to improve relations between Islamabad and Dhaka, and will only elicit tit-for-tat responses from this country. Indeed, the powers that be in Dhaka must think about the benefits, or lack thereof, of strained ties with Pakistan. How long will milking the tragedy of 1971 for political mileage continue to benefit the Awami League? There is no doubt that the separation of Pakistan’s former eastern wing has left deep scars in this country as well as Bangladesh. However, the way forward is only through truth and reconciliation, not through continuing to poison future generations with the venom of the past. Bangladesh should reconsider its attitude to Pakistan and respond to Islamabad’s overtures. On the other hand, despite the hostile atmosphere, Pakistan should not have boycotted the IPU meeting; it would have afforded the parliamentarians an opportunity to interact with their counterparts in an attempt to find a political solution to end this Cold War. Pakistan must respond to provocations in a calm and measured tone and resist attempts to isolate it regionally and internationally.
Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2017
Comments (23) Closed
There you go again, blaming it on India. Anyway Bangladesh does no even share a border with Pakistan, not sure why this relationship is very important.
Excellent Editorial on Bangla and Pakistan relations."How long will milking the tragedy of 1971 for political mileage continue to benefit the Awami League? very well said.Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was not murdered by a Pakistani.
Nice move by Bangladesh
A thoughtful perfect written editorial by Dawn. Being a Senior Citizen and overseas Pakistani I have an opportunity of reading books on Pakistan and regional history by renowned authors. Yes Pakistan should have attended IPU and by not attending it hurt its own interest.BD must understand the separation of E.Pakistan was an organized conspiracy by all those who today advocate that Pakistan cut into half or bifurcated in 1971,even Hussain Haqqani former Pak Ambassador repeated write in his books that Pakistan broken into half,the fact is Pakistan area was 364,351 sq miles,and after separation of BD 56977 sq miles, that's only 15.63% and not half.All those who says Pakistan broke into half,speaks non- sense,and must understands that due to misunderstanding created by politicians for their vested interests,BD with intervention of India dissociate itself from Pakistan which now holds 84.37 % sq miles.Alhamdolillah Pakistan is much more strong and well developed then BD today,and more say.
Pakistan should adopt a new policy in case of Global warming if Bangladesh sinks under the water No bengalis allowed into Pakistan. Im sure they will be welcomed into the loving arms of the Indians whole hardheartedly.
Bangla people are proud people and will resist any attemt to brow beat Bangladesh.
@Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY We all need to forgive each other and move towards reconciliation and get together and raise the human ans political standards
Rightly said that there is no way but truth and reconciliation to move forward.No doubt separation was bitter truth but Bangladesh, specially Sheik Hsaina Wajid must change her attitude and move forward.We have witnessed that Sheikh Hasina Wajid seems more personal rather interest of the Country.This is truth, no country comes into existence without paying sacrifice.For Instance, any part of Bangldesh, start agitation for their homeland, will Sheikh Hasina give them freedom and sovereign country in a plate?.Bangladesh must not forget, in 1975, India was inside Bangladesh and killing Bengali innocent to blame Pakistan.Pakistan and Bangldeshi people have cordial relation till today.Lets move forward and give a peace a chance.
Pakistan should have no doubt about Bd's current hostile and unreasonable approach. It seemed at one stage the two countries were working towards putting their dark past behind but thanks to a deadly recipe made of Haseena-Modi ingredients the old wounds are being refreshed with ruthless enthusiasm. Therefore Pakistan's decision to ignore Parlimentarian's meet in Dacca is understandable. Situation is likely to change with change of Haseena's rule and I think until that happens Pakistan should have minimum necessary link with Bangladesh.
India's 5 billion USD investment is nothing as compared to Chinese 25 Billions and BD in due coarse is more likely to lean towards China particularly if the river water issue is left unresolved. Pakistan need not do anything in the meantime other than adopting a neutral policy in the region other than ongoing strengthening of Pak-China ties.
@Rajbir singh You are absolutely right. I fully agree with you.There are 1 million people from Bangla still living in Pakistan.
Just reading above and many such articles, I feel that Pakistan needs to come out of this constant rant of blaming others (India, Bangladesh in this case) for everything going wrong with respect to relationships it has with others without taking an iota of responsibility.
@Peacetime BD depends on India for water ... not China.... learn your geography, if China blocks of water to India, Bangladesh will have to pay fro it too .... so China will be termed as the 'villian' ... not India ....
Pakistan should attend the IPU meeting held in Dhaka. India want to isolate the Pakistan so Modi will succeed in his nation, Despite the Boycott Pakistan should attend the meeting and it will pave a way for good relations with Bangladesh. What will be the end result if Pakistan Isolate himself from Afghanistan, Bangladesh ect,
@Monsieur jumping to water politics as the first thing that comes to mind is really a recent phenomenon resulting from the political ambitions of Mr Modi. Water is the lifeline for the 1.2 billion people of the subcontinent and is not a weapon of war. shame on those that politicize it.
Pakistan needs to stop being the whipping boy that draws India and Bangladesh closer to each other . It should stay clear of this love hate triangle and let the parties deal with the consequences of their own making.
A wonderful and lucid article that has correctly identified the root cause of Pak-BD estrangement.
The five-day long 136th IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) Assembly meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh is attended by about 1400 members of 131 national parliaments including 45 Speakers, 37 Deputy Speakers and more than 200 women MPs.
@Ishfaq Ahmed If Sheikh Hasina is personal instead of country how Bangladesh's economic growth is 7.2 % compare to Pakistan it is 4.1 % only? How Bangladesh become a 40B USD export country
@Pragmatic approach Compare the two populations instead of the territory unless you don't care about the population. Isn't that what Bangladeshis accused you of - you didn't give a damn about them?
Bangladesh is playing on the tune of India.Let them come out of it.Appeasement will not work.For the time being Pakistan should follow a policy of wait and see.The decision not to attend IPU meeting is correct and the same goes for any Saarc meeting in Bangladesh as well India.
@M. Emad .not so important
@Pragmatic approach In 1971 the majority of Pakistanis decided to leave Pakistan. They called their land Bangladesh. Area and population are two different things.
@Marata world doesn't end on these two. Pakistan is ok without ban as it is far away from Pak's borders for good and very different in terms of culture,language and perception
Bangladesh took a great decision to come out of Pakistan. Today after 46 years Bangladesh gdp is very much close to Pakistan $245 billion vs Pakistan$280 billion Population once higher than Pakistan is drastically reduced. Great achievements some are even better than India's.