- Need for diplomacy with finesse
This is the most appropriate time to repair Pakistan’s relations with Bangladesh. An opportunity has been created, not on account of any diplomatic tour de force by the PTI government but due to a combination of circumstances to facilitate the improvement of Pakistan’s ties with Bangladesh.
The relations between the two countries nosedived in 2016 when Pakistan reacted angrily to the execution of Motiur Rahman Nizami, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Subsequently, under Indian pressure, Bangladesh pulled out from the SAARC summit due in Islamabad. A little later Dhaka observed ‘genocide day’ to mark the tragic events of 1971.
India’s relations with each of its neighbors are in shambles on account of its hegemonic policies. In 2015 the BJP government imposed a disastrous blockade on Nepal to punish it for ratifying a new constitution without consulting it. This forced the landlocked Nepal to seek China’s help. India has also lost considerable ground in Sri Lanka and the Maldives who are rapidly drifting away from it into China’s orbit of influence.
India’s relations with Bangladesh suffered a major blow when the Modi government passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The law triggered massive protests in Bangladesh and in March, Modi had to cancel his visit because of the growing anti-India sentiment. A widespread perception exists in Bangladesh that the relations between the two countries have become unequal and that Bangladesh had given more to India than it had received.
In the middle of this, China has made inroads in Bangladesh by offering economic partnership. Dhaka is already a part of BRI. Recently, Beijing allowed Bangladesh to export goods to China with zero tariffs. Similarly, China has been assisting Bangladesh in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Bangladesh surprisingly kept quiet over the recent military standoff between India and China
After a twenty month long hiatus, caused by Bangladeshi objections, there is finally a Pakistani High Commissioner in Dhaka. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s envoy held a rare meeting with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister. Pakistan has to learn from past mistakes, move cautiously, paying attention to Bangladesh’s sensitivities to restore friendly ties. Pakistan-Bangladesh relations must be based on mutual respect, cooperation and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
