Pakistan trying to improve diplomatic ties with Bangladesh?

[Greenstorm]

Pakistan neither apologized nor moved on from their actions in 71. Pakistan still to this day deny the genocide it committed. You cant expect healthy relations with a country that dosent even admit to the wrongdoings it committed in your motherland.

Bangladesh as recently as in 2018 demanded Pakistan to issue an apology for their war crimes in 71. Bangladesh didn't demand reparations rather demanded just to issue an apology to move forward. Pakistan's response was to leave behind all this & move forward.
Pakistan owes us wealth & money. We don't want it. Just issue an apology and accept your wrongdoings & we will be good to move forward.

Bhutto apologized in 1974 for the crimes committed but Bangladesh is yet to issue theirs. Pakistan denies genocide because it never happened.

 

[Mesozoic]

Bhutto apologized in 1974 for the crimes committed but Bangladesh is yet to issue theirs. Pakistan denies genocide because it never happened.

Wow. I mean.....

 

[sweep_shot]

Awami League and its supporters need 1971 as much as fish needs water. They have turned 1971 into a business.

But, good news is, young generation sees through the deception. They don't play along like blind sheep.

Nobody should erase or deny any objective history. But, nobody should also live in the past.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Bhutto apologized in 1974 for the crimes committed but Bangladesh is yet to issue theirs. Pakistan denies genocide because it never happened.

You can keep your head burried in the sand all you want

 

[ElRaja]

West Bengal is our ethinic brothers. It is natural to have a dream of an united Bangla like many have for an united Punjab for example.

again, i dont know where you get this information from. i have nothing against sikhs and those in eastern punjab and it would be great if punjabis could visit each others parts of punjab for tourism and business but id never want a united punjab state over pakistan, and those who want a ethnocentric punjabi state are a tiny tiny minority.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Well said. I share this same sentiment and I am sure many Bangladeshis (unlike Istiaq_ctg) feel the same way.

May God preserve our brotherhood and protect us from external threats.

You talk as if you represent Bangladeshis & you're a reflection of their emotions. Many Bangladeshis you keep referring to are 99% pro Jamat E Islami, a treacherous party that opposed & fought against our freedom movement. It's nothing but a cult and hardly has any support outside of its bubble.

You want to move on from recent history yet foster a dream of bringing back an imaginary khilafah system from the history books which has no relevance to current world. Why not move on from that pipe dream?

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

again, i dont know where you get this information from. i have nothing against sikhs and those in eastern punjab and it would be great if punjabis could visit each others parts of punjab for tourism and business but id never want a united punjab state over pakistan, and those who want a ethnocentric punjabi state are a tiny tiny minority.

I said it in response to Sweep Shot's dreamy khilafah project that i would rather see a greater Bangladesh than to join a Muslim Federation of states to wage some imaginary holy wars on rest of the world. If given a chance many would love to from ethnocentric states. I can Think of Baloch,Kurds, Kashmiris, many shikhs who have dreams of having a sovereign state. It's a normal human wish.

 

[sweep_shot]

You talk as if you represent Bangladeshis & you're a reflection of their emotions. Many Bangladeshis you keep referring to are 99% pro Jamat E Islami, a treacherous party that opposed & fought against our freedom movement. It's nothing but a cult and hardly has any support outside of its bubble.

You want to move on from recent history yet foster a dream of bringing back an imaginary khilafah system from the history books which has no relevance to current world. Why not move on from that pipe dream?

I never mentioned anything about khilafah. But, I would be fine with it. Khilafah doesn't mean fake ISIS khilafah; I am referring to actual one (something like Ottoman Empire).

I mostly focused on Muslim unity. That is not a pipe dream. That is doable. Look at European Union.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Awami League and its supporters need 1971 as much as fish needs water. They have turned 1971 into a business.

But, good news is, young generation sees through the deception. They don't play along like blind sheep.

Nobody should erase or deny any objective history. But, nobody should also live in the past.

You're the one who live in the past dreaming of bringing back a dead system from the history books, forming imaginary common enemy in your mind again based on history books.

 

[sweep_shot]

I said it in response to Sweep Shot's dreamy khilafah project that i would rather see a greater Bangladesh than to join a Muslim Federation of states to wage some imaginary holy wars on rest of the world. If given a chance many would love to from ethnocentric states. I can Think of Baloch,Kurds, Kashmiris, many shikhs who have dreams of having a sovereign state. It's a normal human wish.

Again, you are putting words in my mouth. Muslim unity doesn't automatically mean we are engaging in a holy war. It simply means cooperation and sticking together against potential enemies.

 

[sweep_shot]

You talk as if you represent Bangladeshis & you're a reflection of their emotions. Many Bangladeshis you keep referring to are 99% pro Jamat E Islami, a treacherous party that opposed & fought against our freedom movement. It's nothing but a cult and hardly has any support outside of its bubble.

So, if someone wants Muslim unity, he is automatically Jamat? ROFL. You are a genius.

You are making a complete fool out of yourself.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

I never mentioned anything about khilafah. But, I would be fine with it. Khilafah doesn't mean fake ISIS khilafah; I am referring to actual one (something like Ottoman Empire).

I mostly focused on Muslim unity. That is not a pipe dream. That is doable. Look at European Union.

Ottoman Empire was a dynasty. Nothing to do with Islam. The actual Khilafah lived only for 30 years and was ended by Ummayas. From then on, muslims were under Monarchies. Khilafah ended with Imam Hassan 1400 years ago.

Muslim unity is a pipe dream as muslims states are scattered around the world unlike EU. Also there is a small thing of Shia Sunni split. People raising their voice for muslim unity are the same ones who deem many group of muslims as disbelievers. You also haven't cleared your reasoning for a global muslim unity? Why should we get united politically? what purpose it would serve?

 

[sweep_shot]

You're the one who live in the past dreaming of bringing back a dead system from the history books, forming imaginary common enemy in your mind again based on history books.

I am not the only one. LOL.

Problem with you is, you don't seem like you have been exposed to outside world. You don't know or understand anything beyond what Bangladeshi textbooks teach. That's not the case with me. I welcome and try to learn about other perspectives.

 

[sweep_shot]

Ottoman Empire was a dynasty. Nothing to do with Islam.

Stop embarrassing yourself further. I stopped reading after these two sentences.

I don't wish to reply to you further as you seem highly misinformed.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Again, you are putting words in my mouth. Muslim unity doesn't automatically mean we are engaging in a holy war. It simply means cooperation and sticking together against potential enemies.

And who are these potential enemies? Pakistan's top enemy state is India, a country with which many muslim countries have a good relation. If a unity is formed, who would determine the hostile states? For example, Afghanistan it seems considers Pakistan as a hostile state and India a friendly one. this is why your reasoning seems very loopy In this matter.

 

[sweep_shot]

I want to apologize to my Pakistani brothers for this man's behavior. He no way represents all of Bangladesh. We do not hate Pakistan or Pakistanis (except for a few idiots).

He unfortunately has polluted this thread with toxic hatred.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

So, if someone wants Muslim unity, he is automatically Jamat? ROFL. You are a genius.

You are making a complete fool out of yourself.

Ground realities brother

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Stop embarrassing yourself further. I stopped reading after these two sentences.

I don't wish to reply to you further as you seem highly misinformed.

You haven't read anything of Islamic history it seems. there are hadith which says Khilafah would be for 30 years after the Prophet & Monarchies would presume after that. Ottomans themselves never really clamed to be the Khalifahs of muslim world. they gave themselves titles like other kings. Ummayads were a also a dynasty. To this day, no one calls even Hadrat Muawiah Amirul Muminin or a rightly guided caliph. He's referred to as an Emir.

 

[CricketCartoons]

[MENTION=147920]ishtiaq_ctg[/MENTION] [MENTION=141306]sweep_shot[/MENTION] vai, apna ra mullyoban shomoy noshto korchen. ei alochona-e kichu pawa jabe na.

 

[sweep_shot]

[MENTION=147920]ishtiaq_ctg[/MENTION] [MENTION=141306]sweep_shot[/MENTION] vai, apna ra mullyoban shomoy noshto korchen. ei alochona-e kichu pawa jabe na.

Haha!

thik bolechen, dada.

I am out of this thread as I have made my point. Nothing further to add.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

I welcome and try to learn about other perspectives.

Take no offence but I think you don't welcome any different perspective as you follow a rigid ikhwani narrative.

 

[JaDed]

Awami League and its supporters need 1971 as much as fish needs water. They have turned 1971 into a business.

But, good news is, young generation sees through the deception. They don't play along like blind sheep.

Nobody should erase or deny any objective history. But, nobody should also live in the past.

Unless its a past you care about- like that of Hagia Sophia being a mosque which predates 1971.

 

[TSA321]

Wow. I mean.....

Even the UN doesn't recognise 1971 as a genocide.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Unless its a past you care about- like that of Hagia Sophia being a mosque which predates 1971.

But it's Erdogan, it's anti-christianity, it's anti kemal ataturk. How can My brother move away from all these romantic elements

My brother wants to move away from 71 because oh it was 50 years ago but absolutely supports turning a 100 year old museum into a mosque because it was a mosque converted from a church some 500 years ago. That is some absolute bizzare double standard right there

 

[sweep_shot]

Unless its a past you care about- like that of Hagia Sophia being a mosque which predates 1971.

Well, first of all, I never supported converting active church. Hagia Sophia was a museum which they turned into a mosque. I don't see any issue. It was a mosque before anyway.

If you want to discuss about this, tag me on the Erdogan thread. This is not the right thread. Come here: http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...agia-Sophia-to-be-reopened-for-Muslim-worship.

But it's Erdogan, it's anti-christianity, it's anti kemal ataturk. How can My brother move away from all these romantic elements

My brother wants to move away from 71 because oh it was 50 years ago but absolutely supports turning a 100 year old museum into a mosque because it was a mosque converted from a church some 500 years ago. That is some absolute bizzare double standard right there

I am not anti-Christianity, my friend. They are ahlul qitab. Why would I hate them? Stop putting words in my mouth.

I am a big fan of Erdogan and I believe Hasina can learn a lot from this man. I can't wait for the day when we finally have a strong and competent male leader like Erdogan. Enough of Hasina and Khaleda.

Also, you need some history lessons. That building was a church until 1400's. After that, it was bought out by an Ottoman sultan which he converted into a mosque. Ataturk then turned it into a museum and Erdogan eventually reversed it (with the backing of the court).

So, I do not support converting active church into a mosque but I see no problem in converting a museum into a mosque and that's what Erdogan did.

Anyway. We are going off-topic. Stay on topic. Also, I am done with this thread unless I see something new or interesting.

 

[smkk]

I am not anti-Christianity, my friend. They are ahlul qitab. Why would I hate them? Stop putting words in my mouth.

I am a big fan of Erdogan and I believe Hasina can learn a lot from this man. I can't wait for the day when we finally have a strong and competent male leader like Erdogan. Enough of Hasina and Khaleda.

Also, you need some history lessons. That building was a church until 1400's. After that, it was bought out by an Ottoman sultan which he converted into a mosque. Ataturk then turned it into a museum and Erdogan eventually reversed it (with the backing of the court).

So, I do not support converting active church into a mosque but I see no problem in converting a museum into a mosque and that's what Erdogan did.

Anyway. We are going off-topic. Stay on topic. Also, I am done with this thread unless I see something new or interesting.

Leave it, sweep_shot. This guy is not only pro-awami league but if I am not mistaken he is part of the vermin called Chatro-league which is destroying the very root of Bangladesh. So much drunk they are in their nationalistic and narrow party view that they do not consider the greater good of Bangladesh anymore. As long as anything helps awami league even at the cost of Bangladesh’s security and benefits, they will accept it.

And if anyone ever dare to counter them, then only one reply come from them, you are pro-jamaat and anti-independent.

Observe that he is trying to divert the topic to other meaningless rants- like khilafat system, anti-christian etc, a lesson well learn from the BJP it cell.

 

[Abdullah719]

Imran Khan phones Sheikh Hasina, asks about Covid-19 situation

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the phone and wanted to know about the coronavirus situation in Bangladesh.

“The Pakistan premier phoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at around 1pm and wanted to know from her about the coronavirus situation in Bangladesh and how her government is combating the deadly disease,” PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS.

During the 15-minute telephonic conversation, the Bangladesh prime minister apprised Imran Khan of the steps her government has taken for the treatment Covid-19 patients and to contain the transmission of the disease, the press secretary said.

The prime minister also informed Imran Khan about the current flood situation in Bangladesh when he inquired about it, Karim said.

At the beginning of the talks, the two leaders exchanged pleasantries, he added.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...hones-hasina-to-know-about-covid-19-situation

 

[Abdullah719]

Pakistan committed to fraternal ties with Bangladesh: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said Pakistan was committed to deepening fraternal relations with Bangladesh on the basis of mutual trust, mutual respect and sovereign equality.

The prime minister expressed these view in a telephone call made to Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Imran Khan underscored the importance Pakistan attached to closer ties with Bangladesh and highlighted the significance of regular bilateral contacts and people-to-people exchanges.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to SAARC, Prime Minister Imran Khan underlined the importance of both countries' working for enhanced regional cooperation for sustainable peace and prosperity.

Imran Khan offered condolences to Sheikh Hasina on loss of lives due to COVID-19 in Bangladesh, however commended the measures taken by her leadership to contain the spread of virus.

The two leaders exchanged views on their respective steps to deal with the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19.

Prime Minister Imran Khan apprised of his government’s measures to save lives and livelihoods and also his “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” for developing countries.

He extended commiserations on the material and human losses due to the recent flooding in Bangladesh and prayed for early recovery of the people affected by this natural calamity.

Prime Minister Imran Khan shared Pakistan’s perspective on the grave situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) and stressed the importance of peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute for a safe and prosperous region.

He also reiterated his cordial invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Pakistan.

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40006937/pakistan-committed-to-fraternal-ties-with-bangladesh-pm

 

[Thomaskutty]

So East Pakistan would have been like present day Occupied Kashmir?

It would've been like Xinjiang today, only about 3 times worse. Read the book 'The Blood Telegram' to get a proper account of 1971.

Leave financial reparations aside. Where are the war tribunals and generals extradited for crimes? Not a single pakistani officer has been punished, meanwhile countless Serbian commanders and leaders have faced trial at the ICC Hague court for their 1995 massacre. It shows how much you value the Bangla people and their lives.

 

[Syed1]

It would've been like Xinjiang today, only about 3 times worse. Read the book 'The Blood Telegram' to get a proper account of 1971.

Leave financial reparations aside. Where are the war tribunals and generals extradited for crimes? Not a single pakistani officer has been punished, meanwhile countless Serbian commanders and leaders have faced trial at the ICC Hague court for their 1995 massacre. It shows how much you value the Bangla people and their lives.

Says somebody who doesn't have the balls to call out his own country for atrocities in Kashmir.

 

[Bigboii]

It would've been like Xinjiang today, only about 3 times worse. Read the book 'The Blood Telegram' to get a proper account of 1971.

Leave financial reparations aside. Where are the war tribunals and generals extradited for crimes? Not a single pakistani officer has been punished, meanwhile countless Serbian commanders and leaders have faced trial at the ICC Hague court for their 1995 massacre. It shows how much you value the Bangla people and their lives.

Thanks for talking about the book I think lots of Pakistanis don't know about what actually happened in 71 and it's something I was/am interested in knowing more about
I just hope it's not a propoganda type of a book where Pak army is this terrible killing machine and indians are angels sent from sky to save the day cause don't wanna waste my time on propoganda/biased book

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

It would've been like Xinjiang today, only about 3 times worse. Read the book 'The Blood Telegram' to get a proper account of 1971.

Leave financial reparations aside. Where are the war tribunals and generals extradited for crimes? Not a single pakistani officer has been punished, meanwhile countless Serbian commanders and leaders have faced trial at the ICC Hague court for their 1995 massacre. It shows how much you value the Bangla people and their lives.

How many Bengali's were punished for their massacre of Biharis? When one side is willing to accept their responsibility and apologize that should be enough, when the killings happened on both sides, and its been over 50 years and most of the people involved are dead.

 

[miandadrules]

How many Bengali's were punished for their massacre of Biharis? When one side is willing to accept their responsibility and apologize that should be enough, when the killings happened on both sides, and its been over 50 years and most of the people involved are dead.

Whataboutism.

The bedrock of social justice.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Whataboutism.

The bedrock of social justice.

What more do you want besides an apology? Like what else can be done?

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Thanks for talking about the book I think lots of Pakistanis don't know about what actually happened in 71 and it's something I was/am interested in knowing more about
I just hope it's not a propoganda type of a book where Pak army is this terrible killing machine and indians are angels sent from sky to save the day cause don't wanna waste my time on propoganda/biased book

Most Pakistanis know that Bengali's were discriminated against and they were denied the right to form a government. Pakistan has apologized and should continue to apologize for that. It was in no way justified. Those were fellow Pakistanis at that time, and an unconditional apology was necessary for that.While any number of innocent people killed is one too many, what people dispute is the number of people killed. They dont accept 3 million figure. Pakistan did not have the number of soldiers possible to kill that many people in that short of time even if they wanted to. Second what Pakistan was doing was predominantly trying to create fear in Hindus of East Pakistan, so that they would leave. The bulk of refugees were Hindus not Muslim. There were even lungi checks. Of course this was wrong, and Pakistan deserved to lose control of Bengal for that.

However during and after the war there was also mass killing of Biharis. For every atrocity that was done to Bengali's, Biharis suffered as well. So when both sides are guilty of killings, and one side is willing to apologize without wanting an apology in return, that should be good enough.

 

[Bigboii]

Most Pakistanis know that Bengali's were discriminated against and they were denied the right to form a government. Pakistan has apologized and should continue to apologize for that. It was in no way justified. Those were fellow Pakistanis at that time, and an unconditional apology was necessary for that.While any number of innocent people killed is one too many, what people dispute is the number of people killed. They dont accept 3 million figure. Pakistan did not have the number of soldiers possible to kill that many people in that short of time even if they wanted to. Second what Pakistan was doing was predominantly trying to create fear in Hindus of East Pakistan, so that they would leave. The bulk of refugees were Hindus not Muslim. There were even lungi checks. Of course this was wrong, and Pakistan deserved to lose control of Bengal for that.

However during and after the war there was also mass killing of Biharis. For every atrocity that was done to Bengali's, Biharis suffered as well. So when both sides are guilty of killings, and one side is willing to apologize without wanting an apology in return, that should be good enough.

That's exactly the reason I wanna know more about it

You can say it was bad but nothing like what indians or some Bangladeshis claim it was like (their claim being that it was similar to something like Hitlers final solution) which I think is not true (the mostly Indian claim) but I am not certain that what I think is actually correct because honestly speaking it's one of those issues where I don't know much about and I am interested in knowing more about and if this book is not a proganda piece or biased I think it'll be an interesting book to read

Know I am all for the last paragraph I don't think Germans paid reperations for what they did to Jews but their government and people apologized and moved on cause in a situation constant reminders of war cannot achieve anything

 

[Bigboii]

Whataboutism.

The bedrock of social justice.

No Whataboutism means to justify something but he didn't justify the army's behavior but he said both sides made mistakes and it was s****y time in our shared history and it's best for both of the countries to move on cause that's the best solution

 

[miandadrules]

No Whataboutism means to justify something but he didn't justify the army's behavior but he said both sides made mistakes and it was s****y time in our shared history and it's best for both of the countries to move on cause that's the best solution

We as Pakistanis are responsible for the actions of our state.

If we truly want a just society then we should hold ourselves accountable and make concerted effort to never repeat such crimes.

We as a state targeted our own countrymen. And in all those decades we haven’t even acknowledged the crimes that were committed in our name.

So, in my opinion it is whataboutism, bleeding in to sophistry.

 

[miandadrules]

What more do you want besides an apology? Like what else can be done?

Please provide a source for the official apology which acknowledged the crimes committed by us.

 

[sweep_shot]

That's exactly the reason I wanna know more about it

You can say it was bad but nothing like what indians or some Bangladeshis claim it was like (their claim being that it was similar to something like Hitlers final solution) which I think is not true (the mostly Indian claim) but I am not certain that what I think is actually correct because honestly speaking it's one of those issues where I don't know much about and I am interested in knowing more about and if this book is not a proganda piece or biased I think it'll be an interesting book to read

Know I am all for the last paragraph I don't think Germans paid reperations for what they did to Jews but their government and people apologized and moved on cause in a situation constant reminders of war cannot achieve anything

Bangladeshi textbooks teach 3-million have died. They make it seem like Holocaust. LOL. I doubt that figure is accurate.

I believe in neutral source. Neutral source says 200,000-300,000 have died in 9 months (March 1971 to December 1971). That's more believable.

Whatever the figure is, I see no point in talking about it in 2020. We should all move on and focus on important issues (poverty reduction, improving economy, improving sports teams etc.).

 

[miandadrules]

That's exactly the reason I wanna know more about it

You can say it was bad but nothing like what indians or some Bangladeshis claim it was like (their claim being that it was similar to something like Hitlers final solution) which I think is not true (the mostly Indian claim) but I am not certain that what I think is actually correct because honestly speaking it's one of those issues where I don't know much about and I am interested in knowing more about and if this book is not a proganda piece or biased I think it'll be an interesting book to read

Know I am all for the last paragraph I don't think Germans paid reperations for what they did to Jews but their government and people apologized and moved on cause in a situation constant reminders of war cannot achieve anything

Luxembourg agreement.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Please provide a source for the official apology which acknowledged the crimes committed by us.

On this thread i have mentioned repeatedly that Pakistan should apologize again. There should be an unconditional apology for denying Mujib and Bengali's the right to form the government. Mujib was not a traitor. There should also be an unconditional apology for all the innocent people who died.

These are previous apologizes:

Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan publicly apologized, today for what he called the “shameful repression and unspeakable crimes” committed in Bangladesh by the Pakistani Army before the eastern part of Pakistan gained independence in December, 1971.

“Do not equate us with those who ruled over us and over you,” he pleaded. “We share your grief and sorrow, condole with you and lament the losses. In the name of the last prophet, I say toba [sorry] to you,” he said.

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/29/archives/bhutto-regrets-crimes-in-bangladesh.html

Gen Musharraf visited a war memorial at Savar, near the capital, Dhaka, and left a handwritten note in the visitors' book.

"Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pain of the events in 1971," he wrote. "The excesses committed during the unfortunate period are regretted. Let us bury the past in the spirit of magnanimity. Let not the light of the future be dimmed."


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wo.../1403185/Musharraf-apology-to-Bangladesh.html


When you accused me of "whataboutisim", i was responding to an Indian poster, who if you followed his comments, has stated that an apology is not good enough. I dont know what else can Pakistan do but apologize.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Bangladeshi textbooks teach 3-million have died. They make it seem like Holocaust. LOL. I doubt that figure is accurate.

I believe in neutral source. Neutral source says 200,000-300,000 have died in 9 months (March 1971 to December 1971). That's more believable.

Whatever the figure is, I see no point in talking about it in 2020. We should all move on and focus on important issues (poverty reduction, improving economy, improving sports teams etc.).

Also improve people to people relations. Bengali films/tv shows can be dubbed into Urdu. Have college students study abroad in the respective country. Tourisim etc.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Also improve people to people relations. Bengali films/tv shows can be dubbed into Urdu. Have college students study abroad in the respective country. Tourisim etc.

Bengali movies are of two kinds. The highbrow ones making commentary on life, universe and everything in between, and the masala ones with over the top action and cgi effects which put bollywood to shame. don't think either will find an audience in pakistan. You can sample some of Shakib Khan movie trailers or Humayoun Ahmed's work.

 

[Greenstorm]

Thanks for talking about the book I think lots of Pakistanis don't know about what actually happened in 71 and it's something I was/am interested in knowing more about
I just hope it's not a propoganda type of a book where Pak army is this terrible killing machine and indians are angels sent from sky to save the day cause don't wanna waste my time on propoganda/biased book

Read the book mentioned by the Indian and then read 'Death reckoning' by Sarmila Bose. Difference between rhetorical propaganda and on ground research based upon facts will be evident rather quickly.

 

[Rajdeep]

Bangladeshis still has not completely forgotten 1971 and the hardship their people had to go through for independence. Remember how Mortaza dedicated their victory over Eng in 2015 WC to Muktijodhas?

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...-over-england-to-freedom-fighters-972289.html

I have interacted with many BD people on their cricket forums and social media pages etc. and their is no love loss between the two countries. Apart from religion, they do not find anything culturally similar with Pakistan.

I hope diplomatic relation improves between the two countries soon but I highly doubt it. BD may become anti India (due to steps like NRC/CAA etc.) but doubt they would still be pro Pakistan.

 

[miandadrules]

On this thread i have mentioned repeatedly that Pakistan should apologize again. There should be an unconditional apology for denying Mujib and Bengali's the right to form the government. Mujib was not a traitor. There should also be an unconditional apology for all the innocent people who died.

These are previous apologizes:

Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan publicly apologized, today for what he called the “shameful repression and unspeakable crimes” committed in Bangladesh by the Pakistani Army before the eastern part of Pakistan gained independence in December, 1971.

“Do not equate us with those who ruled over us and over you,” he pleaded. “We share your grief and sorrow, condole with you and lament the losses. In the name of the last prophet, I say toba [sorry] to you,” he said.

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/29/archives/bhutto-regrets-crimes-in-bangladesh.html

Gen Musharraf visited a war memorial at Savar, near the capital, Dhaka, and left a handwritten note in the visitors' book.

"Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pain of the events in 1971," he wrote. "The excesses committed during the unfortunate period are regretted. Let us bury the past in the spirit of magnanimity. Let not the light of the future be dimmed."


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wo.../1403185/Musharraf-apology-to-Bangladesh.html


When you accused me of "whataboutisim", i was responding to an Indian poster, who if you followed his comments, has stated that an apology is not good enough. I dont know what else can Pakistan do but apologize.

Where’s the apology?

 

[uberkoen]

I cannot believe there are people here who are denying the events that took place. There were atrocities committed from our side and there is absolutely no doubt about that. We should apologize.

 

[hamid.s]

yikes. this thread took a bitter but expected turn.

a lot of typical political points with some enlightening Indian commentaries..that's why I try to avoid such topics as it riles up keyboard warriors.

 

[Local.Dada]

Bangladeshi textbooks teach 3-million have died. They make it seem like Holocaust. LOL. I doubt that figure is accurate.

I believe in neutral source. Neutral source says 200,000-300,000 have died in 9 months (March 1971 to December 1971). That's more believable.

Whatever the figure is, I see no point in talking about it in 2020. We should all move on and focus on important issues (poverty reduction, improving economy, improving sports teams etc.).

So, let’s take out a 0 or for the matter of fact 2 00’s, that is still 30,000 which still doesn’t make it any better.

How is 300000 any better?

It’s good you want to forget and move ahead, that’s admirable but you can’t be that naive as to when 300,000 people have died, I am sure there are a significant number of people who are related to them who are still bitter.

Surprising that you would take such a think which hasn’t even completed 50 years so lightly.

 

[Thomaskutty]

Know I am all for the last paragraph I don't think Germans paid reperations for what they did to Jews but their government and people apologized and moved on cause in a situation constant reminders of war cannot achieve anything

Only apologized ? The entire Nazi leadership faced prosecution for their WW2 crimes, even the ones that escaped were eventually found decades later and brought to justice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_trials

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Bengali movies are of two kinds. The highbrow ones making commentary on life, universe and everything in between, and the masala ones with over the top action and cgi effects which put bollywood to shame. don't think either will find an audience in pakistan. You can sample some of Shakib Khan movie trailers or Humayoun Ahmed's work.

Regardless of how they are, they will be better than Pakistan's film industry.

 

[sweep_shot]

Regardless of how they are, they will be better than Pakistan's film industry.

Our film industry is possibly one of the worst in the world. LOL. It is not even D grade.

But, our drama serials and TV shows are better.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Where’s the apology?

Read what Bhutto said. Sounds like an apology to me. But maybe Imran Khan can do a better one. Make it clear that Pakistan was responsible for denying Mujib right to form goverment, that Mujib was not a traitor, and apologize for all the deaths caused. I am all for that.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Our film industry is possibly one of the worst in the world. LOL. It is not even D grade.

But, our drama serials and TV shows are better.

At least you have one. Pakistan film industry barely makes a few movies a year. And they are not very good.

 

[miandadrules]

Read what Bhutto said. Sounds like an apology to me. But maybe Imran Khan can do a better one. Make it clear that Pakistan was responsible for denying Mujib right to form goverment, that Mujib was not a traitor, and apologize for all the deaths caused. I am all for that.

I did read what Bhutto said.

That’s why I asked where’s the apology?

 

[CricketCartoons]

Regardless of how they are, they will be better than Pakistan's film industry.

Ok, you are in full diplomat mode, so I will leave it at that.

 

[hamid.s]

I want relationships to be normal so I can hike through the northern Pak mountain ranges. I look at pictures and youtube videos and it almost feels surreal. It's unfortunate that Pak gov't couldn't turn these places into a major global tourist destination.

 

[sweep_shot]

I want relationships to be normal so I can hike through the northern Pak mountain ranges. I look at pictures and youtube videos and it almost feels surreal. It's unfortunate that Pak gov't couldn't turn these places into a major global tourist destination.

I agree.

Gilgit-Baltistan is stunning.

 

[MenInG]

A prominent newspaper of Bangladesh has said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not meet India’s High Commissioner despite repeated requests for a meeting in the last four months.

Bhorer Kagoj, a prominent daily, has reported that all Indian projects have slowed down since the re-election of Prime Minister Hasina in 2019 with Chinese infrastructure projects receiving more support from Dhaka.

“Despite India's concern, Bangladesh has given the contract of building an airport terminal in Sylhet to a Chinese company. Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das tried for four months to get an appointment with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh but did not get it. Bangladesh has not even sent a note of appreciation to India in response to Indian assistance for the COVID-19 pandemic”, said the newspaper's editor Shyamal Dutta in an article on the recent tilt of Dhaka towards Pakistan and China.

Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) has received the contract for building a new terminal in MAG Osmania Airport of Sylhet that borders India's northeastern region and is, therefore, considered a sensitive area for New Delhi.

A diplomatic source from the Bangladesh High Commission here has confirmed that the Indian envoy had sought an appointment with Ms Hasina but it did not materialise. However, neither India’s High Commission in Dhaka nor the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) responded to questions from The Hindu. A diplomat from the Indian mission said Ms Ganguly Das has gone out of Dhaka on a tour.

Imran Khan’s call

The comments about the state of bilateral diplomatic ties is timely as Ms Hasina received a phone call from Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan on Wednesday. Though Dhaka refused to give more details of the conversation, Pakistan’s official news agency reported that Mr. Khan informed Ms Hasina about the situation in Kashmir and sought “resolution” of the dispute. India, in response on Thursday, appreciated Bangladesh saying that Dhaka considers Kashmir an internal matter of India.

Ms Ganguly Das has been appointed as the next Secretary in charge of the eastern hemisphere in the MEA and she is expected to take her new post in the coming days. She was met by foreign minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen on July 14 for a farewell meeting.

The article in Bhorer Kagoj said that a section of Ms Hasina’s office is actively supporting stronger ties with China. This angle was visible in the rapid improvement in ties with China’s ally Pakistan in the last 10 months. Bangladesh opted for Pakistan’s onion supplies in November 2019 after India imposed a ban on its export.

This was the first time that Bangladesh imported agriculture items from Pakistan in the last 15 years. Dhaka-Islamabad ties went cold after Ms Hasina’s government hanged Jamaat E Islami Bangladesh leader Motiur Rahman Nizami for the 1971 war crimes in 2016. Pakistan had angrily protested against the execution and for two years (2018-'19) Dhaka did not host a Pakistan High Commissioner.

NRC, CAA issues

India’s ties with Bangladesh in the meantime was also hit by the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which aims to give amnesty to minority religious groups from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Dhaka has maintained that instances of religious bigotry has gone down in the country and that the NRC and the CAA are internal matters of India.

The issue, however, has created a wave of concern in Dhaka, as prominent leaders of the ruling BJP spoke about “sending back” undocumented citizens to Bangladesh. In recent weeks, media in Dhaka has also been vocal about increased number of casualties along the India-Bangladesh border because of reported firings by the Border Security Force (BSF). Growing differences with India were viewed as opportunity for groups that are aligned with Pakistan and Chinese interests in Dhaka.

In this backdrop, Bangladesh-Pakistan diplomatic ties resumed earlier this year with the arrival of new Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Ahmed Siddiqui in January. Mr Siddiqui secured a special meeting with Dr. Momen on July 1.

The article in Bhorer Kagoj also said that a section of officials in Bangladesh was trying to use cricket to normalise relations between the two sides that continues to be vitiated by the memory of widespread human rights violation and war crimes committed by the Pakistan military against the people of the erstwhile East Pakistan that led to the revolt and ultimately the creation of Bangladesh in December '71 through the Indo-Pak war.

Ms Hasina’s increasing diplomatic interactions with Pakistan and Pakistan’s traditional supporter China is also being viewed as a move to bargain with India on issues of Dhaka’s special interest, especially the CAA, which remains a sticking issue for Bangladesh as it is weary of hosting more refugees in addition to the 1.2 million Rohingya from Myanmar currently residing in Chittagong’s Kutupalong.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...pite-requests-dhaka-daily/article32187068.ece

 

[Abdullah719]

Bangladesh’s ’no foe’ diplomacy grows ties with Pakistan

Recent contacts between Pakistani and Bangladeshi leaders have provided a rare glimpse of a possible, if not yet probable, detente after years of strained ties between the two countries, according to observers.

Since the independence of Bangladesh [then East Pakistan] from Pakistan in December 1971 following a nine-month bloody war, the relationship between the two South Asian Muslim states have passed critical courses with ups and downs.

In recent years, already icy relations between the two were fuelled by the conviction of several Jamaat-e-Islami, and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders by a controversial local tribunal – called the International Crimes Tribunal – and subsequent executions on accusations of committing atrocities during the 1971 war.

Bilateral ties, however, have seemingly improved as Dhaka follows its constitutional “friendship to all and malice to none” diplomacy with Islamabad in recent weeks.

“For the greater interest of our country we will keep relations with all and our constitutional foreign policy is- friendship to all and malice to none,” Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told Anadolu Agency.

Spoiler

After a courtesy meeting between Momen and Pakistani High Commissioner in Dhaka Imran Ahmed Siddiqui earlier this month, and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s telephone call to Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, India’s English daily the Hindu published a article underlining Dhaka’s “growing intimacy with Pakistan and China.”

It wrote the number of advisors sympathetic to Pakistan has increased in Hasina’s government. As a result, advisors keeping close ties with India have lost importance in the government.

Dhaka’s top diplomat, however, dubbed the reports as “mere propaganda,” saying as a sovereign and independent country, Bangladesh would decide “freely to whom it keep relations and to what level.”

Terming the reports “excesses,” Momen added, “They have done a bad thing. Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country. Why others will dictate to us on our internal affairs?”

Also, he saw Indian media reports about Bangladesh-Pakistan ties as “production of weak minds.”

“Those who are afraid of our friendship to all are mentally weak. Their situation is like - A guilty mind is always suspicious, “ he said.

“Every country sets its foreign diplomacy based on its own interest. In diplomacy, no one is permanent friend and permanent enemy,” Momen said, adding “no country or its people or its media should do anything that may create an adverse impact over the bilateral ties between two states.”

“Bangladesh believes in friendship to all, malice to none,” he also underlined.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Aisha Farooqui, said her country “has a keen desire to see bilateral relations and peoples’ relations with Bangladesh improve and strengthen.”

“We have a very strong historical connection and we want to have cooperative relations between us,” Farooqui told Anadolu Agency

“As founding members of SAARC [South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation] and for the mutual objective of forward movement towards economic prosperity and fulfilment of development goals of the people of South Asia we believe both Pakistan and Bangladesh can play an important role to strengthen SAARC processes for regional cooperation,” she maintained.

Bad patch in India-Bangladesh ties

India helped Bangladesh militarily in the 1971 war, which resulted in a strong bond between Dhaka and New Delhi.

But ties between the two neighbours have reportedly been passing a bad patch due to frequent killings of Bangladeshi nationals at the hands of Indian border forces, diversion of upstream water of common rivers and the recent enactment of a controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, which grants citizenship to “persecuted minorities” from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Indian media also highlights with concern Bangladesh’s growing relations with India’s arch-rival, China.

“Despite India’s concerns, Bangladesh has given the contract of building an airport terminal in Sylhet district to a Chinese company,” the Hindu reported, quoting Bangladeshi newspaper Bhorer Kagoj.

The Hindu reported citing a Bangladeshi newspaper that despite frequent efforts, Indian envoy to Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das failed to meet Prime Minister Hasina. There was no official statement on the report from either side.

However, following a Tuesday meeting with Das, the ruling Awami League party’s second in command and Bangladesh’s road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said the relationship between the two neighbours were “advancing towards newer dimensions.”

Cautious optimism

Terming recent moves “encouraging,” analysts, however, see the developments with cautious optimism.

“Premier Khan’s initiative to make a phone call to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister is a step in the right direction in mending fences with Dhaka. It has at least left the door ajar for further engagement,” Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui, Pakistan’s former High Commissioner to Bangladesh told Anadolu Agency.

He cautioned the path to break the lockjam was strewn with “insurmountable obstacles.”

“Apology issue continues to casts a long shadow in Islamabad’s bilateral relations with Dhaka,” Siddiqui said, referring to Bangladesh’s constant demand for an official apology from Pakistan for alleged war crimes in the 1971 war.

“In my view it’s too early to celebrate developments taking place in our relations with Dhaka,” he said.

Echoing Siddiqui’s view, CR Abrar, a professor of international relations at Dhaka University, said: “It’s very challenging but Dhaka’s policy of friendship with all, will help it develop its ties with Pakistan and China.”

“It will also reach the delta nation to a great position in the south Asian geopolitics,” Abrar told Anadolu Agency.

Terming the Indian media’s reaction to Pakistani High Commissioner’s courtesy call and Beijing’s approval of duty free access to 97% of Bangladeshi products in Chinese markets, he said, “Indian media reacted on those internal affairs of Bangladesh so harshly. It indicates their level of intolerance. No independent country can tolerate such audacity.”

Abrar saw the development in bilateral ties between Dhaka and Islamabad despite “huge propaganda” as a “very normal” for an independent country in an era of globalisation.

Siddiqui, who served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Dhaka from September 2016 to February 2018, went on to say: “It seems that Dhaka wants to convey its displeasure over Modi government’s unsavoury citizenship laws, which will deprive millions of Bengali Muslims of their Indian nationality, leading to their exodus from India into Bangladesh.”

“If at all that happens Dhaka would find it exceedingly difficult to cope with such a scenario. Besides, the Hasina government is also coming under increasing pressure from the public to stand up to India’s hegemonistic designs,” he added.

“Under the SAARC umbrella, relations between our two countries could have improved a wee bit but since the regional organisation remains dysfunctional due to Pakistan-India rivalry, hence any chance of improvement in our ties with Dhaka remain a distant dream,” Siddiqui opined.

However, he added, Bangladesh’s internal political dynamics, and regional developments might one day break the ice in bringing the two countries closer.

“Being an inveterate optimist, I am hopeful that relations between Islamabad and Dhaka might normalise in days to come.

“Nonetheless, there are certain vested interests, which would never want to see this happening,” he said in a thinly-veiled reference to India.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2257418/bangladeshs-no-foe-diplomacy-grows-ties-with-pakistan

 

[Abdullah719]

China takes Bangladesh into its embrace now as Delhi-Dhaka ties go downhill

Pakistan reaches out to Bangladesh

India’s diplomatic community is now faced with a double whammy as Islamabad is also attempting to build a bridge with Dhaka.

“When China is there, Pakistan can never be far behind,” said another source, who added that New Delhi is closely watching the developments.

In a surprise move, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina for the first time on 23 July and spoke about Islamabad’s commitment “deepening fraternal relations with Bangladesh on the basis of mutual trust, mutual respect and sovereign equality”.

This came after Pakistan’s envoy to Dhaka, Imran Siddiqui, met Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen.

“We want stronger relations with brotherly Bangladesh in all walks of life. We share common bonds of history, religion and culture,” Siddiqui said.

According to Selim Raihan, Professor (Economics), Dhaka University and Executive Director, South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), there’s a friendship deficit in the India-Bangladesh ties.

“There has been some discomfort in Bangladesh on its expectations from India,” Raihan said. “Bangladesh has been most friendly to India compared to others in the region, yet the reciprocity from India’s side has been rather weak.”

He added, “The NRC has created a lot of discomfort in Bangladesh.”

Apart from that, Raihan said, there has been no movement from the Indian side on the Teesta water-sharing pact. “India has to take a larger leadership role in the South Asian region and it has to accommodate all issues it has with others with a broad perspective.”

Sharing of the Teesta river water has been a longstanding contentious issue between India and Bangladesh. The river originates from Sikkim and passes through West Bengal before finally merging with Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

Dhaka wants 50 per cent share of the river’s water for the December-March period. During his visit to Dhaka in 2015, Prime Minister Modi had promised his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina that the matter will be resolved soon. There has, however, been little progress so far.

Apart from the NRC saga and the pending Teesta water-sharing agreement, Bangladesh is now also concerned that India will restrict movement of people coming into India citing the pandemic, which will impact Bangladeshi migrant labourers, according to sources in Dhaka.

https://theprint.in/diplomacy/china...e-now-as-delhi-dhaka-ties-go-downhill/471769/

 

[PakLFC]

We need to sort our our relationship with Bangladesh. Next step should be IK visiting Bangladesh or Hasina coming to Pak. This will upset a lot of people

 

[Abdullah719]

In rare move, Pakistan praises role of Bengal Muslims in its creation

In a rare move, Pakistan’s top diplomat in Bangladesh on Friday praised the contributions of the Muslims of Bengal in the creation of Pakistan.

“Their efforts are very well documented both in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Today, we remembered all our leaders and prayed for their souls,” Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Dhaka, told Anadolu Agency while speaking on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day of the country.

Pakistan’s High Commission in Dhaka on Friday also celebrated the day through recitation from the Quran and raising the country’s national flag to the tune of the national anthem.

Due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh, the program, however, was held with limited participation.

Pakistan got independence from the British on Aug. 14, 1947. Until 1971, Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan.

Recalling the struggles of the Muslims in the then Bengal province, Siddiqui added: “The leaders of Bengal – Nawab Sir Saleemullah, Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, A K Fazlul Haq, Moulvi Tamizuddin, among several others, are part of glorious history of our struggle for Pakistan.”

Referring to relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, he added that both countries “share unbreakable bonds of history, religion and culture. I am sure these bonds will become even stronger in the days ahead.”

Frosty relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have only recently begun thawing, with observers saying China has a role in mediation.

Last month, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina over the phone.

Spoiler

Quiet diplomacy

The Express Tribune had recently reported on quiet diplomatic efforts being initiated by the two countries, citing diplomatic sources who revealed that the current regional security environment compelled the two to reset their troubled ties.

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Imran Ahmed Siddiqui held a rare meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen in Dhaka. The meeting raised eyebrows in New Delhi, which viewed the development with suspicion.

The Bangladesh government called the meeting a “courtesy call” but sources said it was much more than that. It is believed that Imran-Hasina telephonic conversation on Wednesday (today) was the result of that meeting.

Relations between the two countries have remained tense for the last many years. The two countries have yet to overcome the bitter memories of 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

What led to the current low in their ties was the decision taken a few years ago by the incumbent government of Shaikh Hasina Wajid to try and execute several leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on charges of committing war crimes in 1971.

Pakistan was against such, what it called, politically motivated trials. It also accused Dhaka of violating the 1974 trilateral agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Under the agreement, all countries including Bangladesh had agreed not to pursue cases against people involved in the 1971 events.

Relationship between the two countries worsened to the extent that Pakistan’s National Assembly in 2016 passed a unanimous resolution condemning the execution of JI leaders.

Not just that the Bangladesh government refused to approve the appointment of Pakistani High Commissioner for 20 months. Islamabad eventually had to make the fresh proposal for the appointment of Imran Ahmed Siddiqui as envoy to Dhaka. His name was finally approved by Dhaka in November last year. Siddiqui joined the Pakistani mission in Dhaka in January, raising hopes of a thaw in their ties.

Foreign office sources were cautious about calling the meeting held earlier this month as a “breakthrough” or whether this would lead to breaking the ice.

One of the reasons that foreign office sources were playing down the outreach was to avoid creating unnecessary hype and allowing “spoilers” to undermine such efforts.

Indian media reports expressed alarm over the meeting between Pakistani envoy and Bangladeshi foreign minister, claiming Islamabad was trying to take advantage of India’s preoccupation with other issues.

New Delhi and Dhaka have longstanding ties and those relations further deepened when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014. India has exercised great influence over Bangladesh and took full advantage of PM Shaikh Hasina Wajid’s mistrust with Pakistan. But India and Bangladesh ties suffered a major blow when Modi government last year passed a controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The law had triggered massive protests in Bangladesh and in March, Modi had to cancel his visit because of growing anti-India sentiments.

In the middle of this, China also made inroads in Bangladesh by offering economic and other partnership. Dhaka is already part of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Recently, Beijing allowed Bangladesh to export goods to China with zero tariffs. Similarly, China has been assisting Bangladesh in dealing with Covid-19 pandemic.

As a result of this cooperation, Bangladesh surprisingly kept quiet over the recent military standoff between India and China.

Dhaka even did not offer condolences to India over the killing of its 20 soldiers, including a colonel, during a bloody fight with China in the high altitude Ladakh region.

Observers believe that the changing dynamics offered a good opportunity for Pakistan and Bangladesh to revisit their troubled ties.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/225951...raises-role-of-bengal-muslims-in-its-creation

 

[Greenstorm]

Sheikh Hasina has proven to be more wise than I thought. She is gradually moving away from India and getting closer to China. It will be a major setback for India if Bangladesh slips from its hands.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, congratulating her on 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence and Mujib Borsho, seeking to fortify the existing bonds between the two countries and to build new ones for the succeeding generations.

"We would like to fortify our existing bonds with brotherly Bangladesh and build new ones for our succeeding generations, as we believe the destinies of our two peoples are intertwined," he said in the letter sent to media by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka this evening.

The letter comes as Bangladesh celebrates tomorrow the golden jubilee of its independence from the occupation forces of Pakistan in 1971.

Bangladesh declared independence on March 26, 1971, a day after Pakistan military began Operation Searchlight, killing innocent, unarmed civilians, teachers and students of Dhaka University. In the subsequent months until December 16, according to Bangladesh government, Pakistani forces killed three million Bengalis. Millions took shelter in India, while hundreds of thousands of Bengali women were raped.

Bangladesh has been demanding that Pakistan officially offer apology for the genocide during the Liberation War that was a culmination of decades of economic and political deprivation following the partition of India and Pakistan based on religion.

Bangladesh's relations with Pakistan deteriorated further after the latter's parliament adopted resolutions against the war crimes trial of Bangladesh, which hanged some major criminals who committed crimes against humanity in 1971. Pakistan's application for appointing its envoy was not accepted for nearly two years until November 2019.

In recent months, Pakistan's bid to improve relations with Bangladesh has been visible. Dhaka asked Islamabad to resolve outstanding issues, which include receiving an official apology from Pakistan for the genocide in 1971, repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh, and the division of assets.

Imran Khan, who tested COVID-19 positive last week, in the letter wrote: "On this occasion, let us renew our resolve to jointly work for a better future for our peoples and even closer ties between our two countries."

Khan did not mention anything regarding the Liberation War or the atrocities by the Pakistani junta.

He wrote, "I have great pleasure in extending our felicitations on the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of Bangladesh."

"The centenary events to commemorate the late Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are reflective of the deep affection and esteem in which he is held by yourself and the people of Bangladesh," he wrote.

The cricket player-turned politician said Pakistan deeply values its fraternal ties with Bangladesh, which are based on "shared history, common faith, and convergent interests in promoting lasting peace and security as well as sustainable prosperity in our region and beyond."

The centenary and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh remind of the "far-sighted vision of reconciliation and friendship between our two peoples, so dearly cherished by the leaders of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan remains a sincere partner in the fullest realization of this vision" he wrote.

Imran Khan also invited Prime Minister Hasina to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience, saying he was confident that this would open a new chapter in fraternal relations.

He wished Prime Minister Hasina long life, health and happiness and continued peace, progress and prosperity of Bangladeshis.

"Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," he wrote.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said Prime Minister Hasina wrote a message to Imran Khan, wishing his quick recovery from COVID-19.

On the occasion of Pakistan Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying India desires "cordial relations" with its neighbour in an environment "devoid of terror".

https://www.thedailystar.net/world/...tertwined-imran-khan-writes-pm-hasina-2066757