Turning Point in Pakistan-Bangladesh Relations
The two-day visit by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka has been appropriately characterized as “historic” and is a turning point in South Asian diplomacy. Dar’s visit symbolizes a long-overdue thaw in a relationship that has for too long been iced over by mistrust, lost possibilities, and the ghosts of a traumatic shared past. Dar is the highest ranking Pakistani official to visit Bangladesh since 2012. The Foreign Office Consultation conference in Dhaka in April, followed by Dar’s visit, is a definite sign that both Islamabad and Dhaka are prepared to start again after 15 years of diplomatic stagnation.
The pledges made during the visit, which cover everything from commerce, investment, and energy cooperation to tourism and education, demonstrate a positive desire to establish a multifaceted partnership. In addition to making strides toward relaxing visa requirements and restoring direct air connections, both parties have placed a strong focus on interpersonal communication and connectivity. This is a really significant start to what ought to be a strategic realignment. Another important factor is the visit’s timing. A new political environment has emerged in Dhaka following the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic government, which was long seen as pro-India and inimical to rapprochement with Pakistan. According to observers, the public’s perception of Hasina’s exile in India and its effects have changed how Bangladeshis view regional dynamics, especially India’s involvement in domestic issues. This offers Pakistan a unique diplomatic opportunity to rebuild ties on the basis of shared strategic and economic advantages.
This newfound involvement, meanwhile, might not be able to fully ignore the historical shadows. Some examples of lingering trauma include the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ clear demand for a formal apology for the events of 1971, as well as the unresolved issues of asset division, foreign aid, and the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis. It is unclear how the Pakistani government intends to address these issues. Many people in Dhaka believe that Dar’s reference to the 1974 tripartite agreement and former President Musharraf’s statements of contrition are, at most, half-measures. Nevertheless, history shouldn’t be a constant hindrance, and both nations must find a means to make peace with the past and the future. Examples of nations with more violent and traumatic histories coming together for the benefit of regional development abound in the world’s political landscape. The understanding that acknowledgment does not mean weakness must be adopted by Bangladesh and Pakistan as well. Pakistan should likewise refocus its regional goals at this moment. Tensions between India and Pakistan have played a major role in stifling the ambition of Saarc, a regional grouping with enormous potential, for decades.
However, with new leadership in Dhaka and changing regional priorities, Pakistan should work to build new regional blocs based on common interests in security cooperation, trade, and climate resilience in addition to reviving its relations with Bangladesh. The seriousness of follow-through, rather than the warmth of handshakes or joint comments, will ultimately determine how momentous this visit is. Because of their shared history, culture, and language, the people of Bangladesh and Pakistan stand to benefit greatly from their leaders’ choice of vision and pragmatism. This is an essential advancement.
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