DHAKA: Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held a meeting with the interim leader of Bangladesh — Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Sunday, as both sides discussed “the recent developments in the region and the prospects of regional cooperation”.
Dar, who holds the portfolio of foreign minister, and Yunus also focused on reviving old connections between the two countries, enhancing connectivity, promoting youth linkages as well as augmenting trade and economic cooperation.
Later in the day, Dar and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Begum Khaleda Zia deliberated upon on the relations between the two countries, political and economic cooperation, and regional situation.
Friday also saw the deputy prime minister visiting the residence of Jamaat-e-Islami chief, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, as he appreciated his life-long positive contribution in the fields of politics, education and social welfare.
During his stay in Dhaka, the deputy prime minister also met the leadership of Bangladeshi political parties — BNP, National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami — separately.
‘SHARED INTERESTS’
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, in which the highlights of the meeting between Dar and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain were explained.
“The bilateral meeting took place in a spirit of warmth and goodwill, reflecting the brotherly relations between the two countries and their shared desire to augmenting engagement and cooperation.”
It read that the foreign affairs adviser emphasised the importance of deepening collaborative bilateral relations founded on mutual respect, understanding, and shared interests.
PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH KNOWLEDGE CORRIDOR
Earlier, Dar and Touhid Hossain discussed a variety of regional and international issues, including rejuvenation of SAARC and resolution of Palestine and Rohingya issues.
They also “oversaw signing of six instruments between Pakistan and Bangladesh”.
It includes Agreement on Visa Abolition for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders as an MoU on Joint Working Group on Trade.
At the same time, Pakistan also launched “Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor,” which “envisages grant of 500 scholarships to Bangladeshi students for pursuing higher studies in Pakistan during the next five years”.
On the other hand, training for 100 Bangladeshi civil servants will be arranged during the same period.
Pakistan has also decided to increase the scholarships allocated to Bangladeshi students under Pakistan Technical Assistance Program from 5 to 25.
POST-HASINA ERA
Earlier this week, AFP in a report “Pakistan woos old rival Bangladesh as India watches on” discussed the changing dynamics in South Asia — one of the most volatile and least integrated regions in the world.
It said Bangladesh leaned heavily on India, which almost encircles the country of 170 million people.
However, a mass uprising in Dhaka last year that toppled longtime India ally Sheikh Hasina has strained ties with New Delhi and opened the door for dialogue with Islamabad, AFP noted.
Pakistan and Bangladesh began sea trade last year, expanding government-to-government commerce in February.
“It is the emergence of a new strategic equation — one that reduces Indian influence and instead strengthens a cooperative axis between Pakistan and Bangladesh,” Azeem Khalid, a New York-based international relations expert, told AFP.
“If sustained, this evolution has the potential to reshape South Asia’s geopolitical and economic order.”
Bangladesh’s interim government led by Yunus is furious that Hasina fled to India and has defied a summons to answer charges amounting to crimes against humanity.
Read more: Bangladesh asks India to stop Hasina from making false comments
“Under Yunus, there have been a number of high-level meetings, trade relations have expanded, the two countries have agreed to relax visa rules and there has even been some limited military cooperation,” said analyst Thomas Kean from the International Crisis Group.
OBSTACLES
Still, reconciliation faces obstacles, the AFP report mentioned.
Calls for Pakistan to apologize for the 1971 killings remain popular in Bangladesh, but foreign policy expert Qamar Cheema believes it is unlikely Islamabad will oblige.
“Pakistan’s engagement with Bangladesh is only possible if Bangladesh does not bring historical animosity in re-establishing ties,” said Cheema, from Islamabad’s Sanober Institute.
“Bangladesh always demanded an apology, which (Pakistan) never provided — and even today, doesn’t have any such intentions.”
Touhid Hossain, asked if Bangladesh would raise the issue of a public apology, said that “all issues will be on the table.”
