Officials from the foreign ministries of Bangladesh and Pakistan have resumed negotiations after a hiatus of 15 years. This diplomatic effort marks an attempt by both nations, which are predominantly Muslim and situated in South Asia, to mend their frosty relationship. Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, who was ousted in a massive uprising led by students in August, had previously taken steps to forge closer ties with India across all sectors. However, under the interim leadership of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s relations with India have soured. Yunus has publicly criticized India for offering refuge to Hasina and has called for her extradition, receiving no cooperative response from Indian authorities.
In a strategic shift, Yunus has worked towards rekindling relations with Pakistan, a long-time rival of India. He has met multiple times with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and in a significant move, a high-ranking Bangladeshi military delegation visited Pakistan in January to engage in discussions with Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir. Furthermore, in February, the Bangladeshi navy participated in a multinational maritime exercise organized by Pakistan off the coast of Karachi.
Since the departure of Hasina, Bangladesh and Pakistan have restarted direct trade links, which were dormant for several years. Plans are also underway to reestablish direct flights between the two nations, and visa processes have been simplified. Meanwhile, India has tightened visa restrictions for Bangladeshis, only issuing them in medical emergencies.
Adding to the tension, India has recently withdrawn a key transshipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to export its mainly garment-based products through Indian airports and infrastructure. This decision is projected to inflate trade costs with the European Union, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, potentially jeopardizing Bangladesh’s $39 billion annual textiles export industry. Bangladesh, trailing only China, is the world’s second-largest garment manufacturer.
Following the Thursday discussions in Dhaka involving Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and Pakistan’s counterpart, Uddin highlighted that Bangladesh had brought up long-standing unresolved matters with Pakistan. One significant issue was the call for a public apology from Pakistan concerning alleged atrocities during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. During this conflict, with India’s support, Bangladesh secured independence from West Pakistan, now Pakistan. The Awami League, previously led by Hasina, frequently criticizes Pakistan over accusations of wartime atrocities. Bangladesh alleges that approximately 3 million citizens died and that 200,000 women were raped by Pakistani military forces. Pakistan, however, has consistently denied these allegations and has never issued a formal apology.
Local reports suggest that Yunus’ current administration is preparing to officially demand $4.52 billion in financial reparations from Pakistan, a point that was also brought up in the latest meeting. “Resolving these issues is essential for establishing a strong relationship foundation,” Uddin stated, reporting that discussions included the expansion of trade, commerce, and cooperation in agriculture and other sectors.
An announcement from Yunus’ office after the meeting on Thursday disclosed that he had an additional meeting with the Pakistani foreign secretary, focusing on “enhancing ties with Pakistan to increase mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials.” Yunus remarked to Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, “There are certain obstacles. We must discover solutions to overcome these and advance forward.”
The prior diplomatic consultation between these two countries took place in Islamabad in 2010 following Hasina’s rise to power after a decisive 2008 electoral victory. Baloch emphasized the importance of Bangladesh and Pakistan working together to “tap into the potentials between the two countries,” as outlined in the statement.