As Islamabad and Dhaka strive to diplomatically restore their strained ties that might heal the scars of the painful past at the backdrop of the current regional environment, both countries can avail the opportunity to bring about prosperity and development in their respective countries and in turn the region as a whole.
By turning the pages of history, one can find ample evidence that both countries have undergone disturbing and worsening relationship whose roots can be seen from the Fall of Dhaka to the unanimous passing of the resolution in Pakistan National Assembly in 2016 that condemned the execution of JI leaders. Moreover, the longstanding ties between India and Bangladesh which deepened with the advent of the Modi administration in 2014 was a major setback for Islamabad to revitalise its relations with its former Eastern wing. As India exercised great clout over the Bangladeshi government and took full advantage of Sheikh Hasina’s mistrust with Pakistan, prospects of forging peaceful ties were next to impossible. However, nothing can be more than the fact that in international relations there are no permanent friends or enemies but permanent interests.
As the tables turn and Bangladesh remains surprisingly quiet after the recent Sino-Indian military face-off, analysts believe that it is a viable opportunity to foment its ties with Bangladesh on the basis of mutual understanding and cooperation.
Hadia Mukhtar
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2020.
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