Row over executions: Pakistan rejects Dhaka war crimes complicity charge

Summons Bangladeshi envoy to record protest


Our Correspondent November 30, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:


Pakistan lodged a formal protest with Bangladesh on Monday, with its Foreign Office rejecting Dhaka’s“insinuation of complicity in committing war crimes” amid a flare-up of diplomatic tensions over the hanging of two opposition leaders.


“The acting high commissioner of Bangladesh was summoned to the foreign ministry by the director general SA & SAARC and was informed that the Government of Pakistan rejected the baseless and unfounded assertions of the Bangladesh government,” said a statement issued by the FO.

Last week, the Bangladesh government had summoned the Pakistan high commissioner and protested over Islamabad’s objections to the recent hangings of two Bangladeshi opposition leaders for crimes related to the 1971 war. The Bangladesh government termed Pakistan’s reaction to the executions as “interference in internal matters” and accused Islamabad of being “complicit in committing war crimes”.



“Nothing could be further from the truth,” FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said in the statement.

The acting Bangladesh high commissioner was informed that it was regrettable that attempts were made by Bangladesh to malign Pakistan despite the latter’s ardent desire to develop brotherly relations with the former.

“Pakistan believes that the people of both countries not only want to maintain but also strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood,” noted Khalilullah. “However, sadly, the Bangladesh government does not seem to respect these sentiments.”

The FO spokesman said the 1974 tripartite agreement was the bedrock of relations between the two countries. As regards the Bangladesh government’s contention that Pakistan presents a misleading interpretation of the agreement, it needs to be emphasised that, as a part of the agreement, the Bangladesh government had “decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency”.

“Pakistan reiterates its desire for improving relations with Bangladesh, because we believe that the hearts of the people of Pakistan beat in unison with those of the people of Bangladesh,” added the statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st,  2015.

 

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ