Pakistan approaches Bangladesh when India watches for

The dramatic political events in Bangladesh, which led to the fact that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina deviated last year, threw many surprises – including the growing closeness of Daki with a single enemy of Pakistan.

Last month, after a decade of problem relations, both countries began to trade for the first time, and Daco imported 50,000 tons of rice from Pakistan. Direct flights and military contacts were also revived, visa procedures were simplified, and there are reports of security cooperation.

Countries – separated by India – have deep, excruciating historical ties. The lease between them returns in 1971, when Bangladesh – then known as Eastern Pakistan – started the struggle for independence from Islamabad. India supported the Bengal rebels during the nine -month war, which led to the formation of Bangladesh.

While the scars of this period went deep, Daka had a heartfelt relationship with Islamabad from 2001 to 2006, when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-Ellam ruled the country.

This has changed during the 15 -year rule of Hasin since 2009 – when she has strongly supported Delhi and maintained the distance from Pakistan. But after it escaped to India after mass protests against its government, it seems that the connections have been thawed.

“In the last 15 years, Pakistan-Bangladesh’s relationship has been on a slightly difficult trajectory,” says Humayun Kabir, a former senior Bangladesh diplomat, adding that the relationship seems to return to “two ordinary neighbors”.

The development is carefully observed, especially in India, which has a long history of hostile relations with Pakistan.

Relations between Daka and Delhi were frosty from the exit of Hasas. India did not respond to Bangladesh’s demands to extradite her against the accusation of crimes against humanity, money laundering and corruption. Hasina denies allegations against her.

Some experts believe that the revival of relations between Daka and Islamabad is a strategic step.

“Pakistan and Bangladesh currently have tactical relationships. Together they want to present a retreat against the domestic domination,” says AieSha Siddik, Pakistan Academician, who is the senior King College in London.

There were other developments other than the start of direct trade.

Muhammad Yunus, Head of Bangladesh, met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif several times at multilateral forums.

And then the military relations grow.

The Bangladeshi Military Delegation made a rare visit to Pakistan in January and negotiated with the influence of General Asim Munira. The Bangladesh Military Fleet also participated in multinational maritime exercises organized by Pakistan off the coast of Karachi in February. .

The Sick’s wine, which was the High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh from 2003 to 2006, describes the growth of intimacy between Daku and Islamabad as “Dejo Wa”.

During her stay in Daka, she said, India repeatedly raised the issue of “Indian rebels who were trained in Bangladesh with the support of ISI (Pakistan’s intelligence agency) and Bangladesh Military Military Section.”

“We even presented the Bangladesh authorities,” she said.

Authorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh He denied the charges at the time.

The long, porous border between India and Bangladesh makes it relatively simple for armed rebel groups from the northeastern Indian states to move from Bangladesh. But after the League of Avi Hasina came to power in 2009, she was lurking on these groups and disassembled their bases.

Thus, the revival of military relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan is “the main security problem for India,” says Ms Sick.

“It is not only military relations. The Pakistani institution also revives ties with the Bangladesh Islamist parties, such as Jamaat-e-Islam, which supported Islamabad during the Bangladesh War,” she adds.

The press service of the Yunus administration categorically rejected the reports of Indian media that high -ranking officials ISI visited the document. He also described reports claiming that Pakistani operatives are working to open an Indian rebel group in Bangladesh as “unreasonable”.

Pakistan’s military did not answer BBC questions about India’s concern about the future ISI role in Bangladesh.

Analysts say Bangladesh politicians know that, given close economic and linguistic ties, Daka cannot afford to take an anti -Indial position.

And despite the fears in Delhi, Bangladesh diplomats claim that ties with Pakistan cannot be normalized if the 1971 war problems are not solved.

During the war, hundreds of thousands of Bengali were killed and tens of thousands of women raped. The war ended with more than 90,000 Pakistani security and civilian staff, which seemed to the joint command of the Indian and Bangladesh forces in what is considered as a degrading leader in Islamabad.

Bangladesh demanded an official forgiveness in Pakistan for the atrocities committed during the war, but Islamabad did not prove to do so.

“Pakistan should have crimes that have taken place during the war,” said Mr. Kabir, a former Bangladesh diplomat. “We also raised the issue of the asset department until 1971 between the two countries at several bilateral meetings with Pakistan.”

Even former Pakistani military officers, such as Ikram Sehgal, accept that “the main block of stumble in bilateral ties is the Bangladeshka requirement that Pakistanis must apologize for what happened in 1971.”

However, retired in the Pakistani Army, Major insists that Bangladesh should also resolve the issue Bengali attacks on the pro -out Urdu During the struggle for independence.

“I witnessed the atrocities that occurred against the Urdu, which speaks to Bihara (in East Pakistan),” said the BBC Mr. Segal, who now lives in Karachi.

While the story throws a shadow over the ties between Daka and Islamabad, economists point out that both countries can first focus on improving bilateral trade, which currently is less than $ 700 million (£ 540), mainly in favor of Pakistan.

“More than 250 million Pakistan’s population is a solid market for Bangladesh in the middle and long term,” says Sabrin, Associate Professor of the Department of Economics at Delaware University.

Currently, there are restrictions, including high tariffs on both sides, and enterprises and exporters face visas and obstacles to travel, it notes. However, the lady run says that “improving bilateral political and trade relations will facilitate these restrictions.”

Some of these issues may be discussed during the Pakistan’s visit of Iskac’s gift in the document in April. By the end of the year, Bangladesh is expected to hold a general election, and the new government may have another set of foreign policy priorities.

But whatever happens, Delhi’s rates are high, which strongly believes that stable and friendly Bangladesh is needed to maintain peace and stability in the northeastern states.