Mumbai:
After a gap of 15 years, a Pakistani Foreign Secretary landed in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, to hold bilateral meetings. Amidst the Indo-Bangladesh relations, Pakistan has been accused of furthering its agenda to encourage anti-India extremists in Bangladesh, especially after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government last year.
While Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh, is focusing on China at the cost of India, Pakistan is also coming back to play a big role in Bangladesh.
The Pakistani officer, Amana Baloch, will hold a series of meetings with his Bangladeshi counterpart MD Jashim Udin as part of the Foreign Office Counseling (FOC) between the two countries.
The Foreign Secretary-Level talks between the two countries will be held on Thursday at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka. India must have been closely watching the developments of Dhaka.
Ms. Baloch is expected to meet members of the interim government of Bangladesh, including Foreign Affairs advisors MD Tauhid Hussain and Mr. Yunus during the visit.
Over the last few months, not only Bangladesh has seen fundamentalists and extremists becoming more vocal, but it has also tried to wipe the legacy of Bangbantu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who freed the country from Pakistan, leading to the birth of Bangladesh.
His daughter, Sheikh Hasina, who was the Prime Minister till August last year, hit Bangladesh’s developments.
Addressing his supporters on Sunday, he accused Shri Yums of eradicating the history of Bangladesh, especially associated with the contribution of Awami League in the country’s freedom struggle.
“All signs of Bangladesh’s freedom movement are being removed. Mukta Jodhon (freedom fighters) are being insulted. We have created liberation jodha premises in all districts to keep our memories alive, but they are being burnt. Will Mr. Yunas be able to justify it?” He said. “If you play with fire, it will also burn you.”
Pakistan, many Bangladesh monitoring, believe that there is a role in encouraging anti-India voices in the country.
Under the leadership of Shri Yunas, the caretaker government in Bangladesh has freed elements like Ansarullah Bungalow Team (ABT) head, Jashimuddin Rahmani, head of AL-Qaeda affiliated terrorist organization.
The last time foreign secretaries of Pakistan and Bangladesh met in Islamabad in 2010. However, Pakistan has since lost land in Bangladesh and India and improved relations with Bangladesh especially under Sheikh Hasina regime, where the two sides improved coordination and cooperation on several issues of mutual interest.
However, since the interim government took charge in Bangladesh, the relationship between the two countries started moving towards China and opening towards Pakistan. This journey is important as it is expected to close a series of further meetings between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Pakistan and Bangladesh share a history. After partition, East Pakistan, now under direct control of Bangladesh, Islamabad. In 1971, with the help of India and with a brave effort by the Indian Army with the help of Bangladesh, the country was freed under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Pakistani army tortured and persecuted the Bangladeshis, which revealed the intervention from India and the liberation of Bangladesh. But now with the interim government in power, Pakistan is looking at more connections with Bangladesh, a step that is also being recommended by the small nation.
In December last year, Bangladesh’s largest educational institution Dhaka University lifted the ban on accepting Pakistani students. In December 2015, Pakistan was banned for suppressing Pakistan for pardon and for accountability for atrocities made by the Pakistani Army in 1971. However, there is no accountability or apology from Pakistan.
Two foreign secretaries are also expected to discuss and shape the events during the upcoming visit of Dhaka during the upcoming visit of Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar later this month. This will be a Pakistani Foreign Minister’s first visit since 2012.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Mr. Yunus have met twice since August last year. He first met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September last year, and then at the D -8 summit in Cairo in December.
Pakistan is eager to increase cultural exchange and establish direct air connectivity between the two countries. In an attempt to normalize relations, Bangladesh reduced visa rules for Pakistani citizens. Officials of both sides have confirmed that all bilateral issues will be discussed during the FOC meeting.
