Five decades after Pakistan’s recognition of Bangladesh

On February 22, 1974, on the occasion of second Islamic summit held in Lahore, Pakistan made a historic decision to recognise Bangladesh as Dhaka was not ready to attend that conference without seeking recognition from Islamabad. Five decades after granting diplomatic recognition to Dhaka by Islamabad it is time to analyse why the two countries are unable to mend fences and how they can make a breakthrough in their stagnant relations.

Barring pleasant and unpleasant phases in Pak-Bangladesh relations till today, technology and social media tend to motivate youths of the two countries to move ahead and build blocks of friendship. Several newsgroups promoting goodwill and understanding between the two peoples are functional. Lack of physical connectivity particularly direct flights and sea linkages between the cities of Bangladesh and Pakistan along with obstacles in the issuance of visas is a major impediment for promoting economic, trade, cultural, educational and scientific ties.

By the end of 2021 it looked as if Bangladesh and Pakistan were moving in the direction of stabilising their relations which got ruptured when Dhaka heavily criticised Islamabad’s position opposing death sentence awarded to the leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami and BNP for their alleged crimes during the 1971 war. Then High Commissioner of Pakistan to Dhaka Mr Imran Ahmed Siddiqui took personal interest in mending fences with Bangladesh when he held several meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and invited her to visit Pakistan. Telephonic conversation between then Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reflected gradual warmth in the bilateral ties. In order to express goodwill for the people of Bangladesh, Pakistan announced withdrawal of visa restrictions. Yet the unilateral gesture of Pakistan to promote people to people contact was not reciprocated by Dhaka.

When Sheikh Mujibur Rehman visited Lahore as Bangladesh Prime Minister to attend the second Islamic Conference and got rousing welcome by Pakistani hosts, it was expected that the two Muslim countries will move on. Bangladesh dropped its condition for trial of 195 Pakistani Prisoners of War but retained its demand for repatriation of stranded Pakistanis; division of assets; and grant of state apology for alleged atrocities during the 1971 military operation. Prime Minister ZA Bhutto under the invitation of the Bangladeshi PM visited Dhaka in June 1974 but despite granting diplomatic recognition to each other, the two countries failed to normalise their relations till the time new government of Bangladesh took charge after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in August 1975.

Normalcy in the bilateral relations commenced from 1976 when the two countries established full-fledged diplomatic ties along with travel and trade relations. From 1976 to 2015, the relations between the two countries witnessed periodic normalcy but things got worsened during the third regime of Sheikh Hasina from 2015 onwards. Dhaka took a strong notice of Pakistan’s condemnation of the hanging of the Jamaat-i-Islami leaders for their alleged involvement in war crimes during the 1971 military operation. Accusing Pakistan of interfering in its domestic affairs, Sheikh Hasina imposed travel restrictions. The resolution passed by Pakistan’s national assembly was also bitterly criticised by Bangladesh. A statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office read, “We have noted with deep concern and anguish the unfortunate executions of Bangladesh National Party (BNP) leader Salahuddin Choudhry and Ali Ahsan Mujahid. Pakistan is deeply disturbed at this development.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Dhaka to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh’s founding openly expressed India’s help to Bangladesh in the 1971 war. Hasina’s overt tilt in favour of India reflects her animosity against Pakistan.

Ups and downs in the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh are linked with the internal dynamics of Dhaka particularly when Awami League is in power and uses ‘Pakistan card’ to mobilise popular sentiments for domestic political consumption. Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Muhammad Shamsul Haq gave a positive picture of the Pakistan-Bangladesh relations when he argued, “Bangladesh and Pakistan were bound by many common ties routed in a shared history and culture, which was overshadowed but not obliterated by the tragic happenings of 1971. The Bangladeshi role in the creation of Pakistan was also a historical fact. The original Pakistan resolution was moved by Mr. Abdul Kasem Fazlul Haq, a Bengali, Muslim leader, and of the Muslim majority provinces of the British India, Bengal was the only province where the Muslim League was voted to power, thus providing the Muslim League with a political power base.”

Ego, paranoia, mistrust, misperception and apparent hostility still shape the mindset of Awami League government against Pakistan which was not the case during the regime of President Zia-ur-Rehman, President Hossein Mohammad Ershad and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. In this scenario, does that mean that the Pakistan-Bangladesh relations will not fully normalise as long as the Awami League regime remains in power or there is a possibility of fence-mending if there is transformation of mindset in Dhaka about Pakistan?

Fifty years down the road, Pakistan and Bangladesh need to rethink the rationale of stagnation in their relations from two angles.

First, a majority of the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh, comprising the post-1971 generation and youths, do not carry the baggage of history. From Pakistan side, there is no impediment to fence-mending with Bangladesh as the two countries must not remain victims of the past and should move on. It is the youths of Pakistan and Bangladesh who have a stake in better relations marked by promotion of trade, travel, educational, cultural and scientific ties.

Second, when Awami League comes to power it adopts hostile attitude towards Pakistan and exploits the events of 1971 for political consumption. Ironically, all the three national days in Bangladesh like the February 21 Language Day, Independence Day on March 25, and Victory Day on December 16 are directed against Pakistan.

Fifty years after the grant of diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh by Pakistan, it is time for the two countries to get over the bitterness of the past and take urgent steps for easing travel restrictions and resuming direct flights between Karachi and Dhaka. The last official visit to Bangladesh from Pakistan’s side was in July 2002 by the then President Pervez Musharraf whereas from Bangladeshi side it has been several decades that an official visit has taken place. Pakistan should also learn from Bangladesh on its economic success, population control, women empowerment and stemming of religious extremism.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2024.

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