On the 50th anniversary of independence of Bangladesh earlier this year, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, and invited her to visit Pakistan. He said: “On my own behalf, and on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, I have the great pleasure in extending our facilitations on the 50th anniversary of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh”.
Reciprocating the same sentiments, Bangladesh PM sent a letter of congratulation to Pakistan on the Pakistan Republic Day.
The relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have been lukewarm or at times strained since the war in 1971, when instead of going for a democratic resolution, Pakistan adopted the way of violence and war. First it launched the Operation Searchlight, that proved to be the last nail in the coffin of a united Pakistan, and then the massive crackdown on the Bengali nationalists that led to a war with India and subsequent humiliation of the surrender. According to Bangladeshi sources, around three million people lost their lives and millions more became homeless in the war. Charges of atrocities and extra-judicial killings have been levied by both sides but all the figures of deaths and injuries are highly controversial.
Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1974 after the Islamic summit in Lahore and Pakistan’s formal recognition of Bangladesh. But it was only recently when the two countries witnessed an unprecedented warmth between the two states.
Pakistani author Anum Zakaria believes that Pakistan must first “acknowledge the violence of 1971 as well as the political, economic and cultural discrimination prior to Bangladesh’s birth… Owning up to the past and issuing a formal apology for war crimes committed in 1971 will allow the two countries to deepen diplomatic and economic relations”.
She further adds: "Half a century later, Pakistan has not owned its past. Textbooks, museum exhibits and mainstream narratives continue to distort and erase history and a selective remembering and forgetting of the past has been institutionalized by the state… The denial and minimizing of violence 50 years on is deeply painful for Bangladeshi survivors and their families. Pakistan's acknowledgement is critical… Nations cannot simply erase their history and move on. Our past will continue to haunt our present unless we engage deeply and learn from it”.
The issue of acknowledging Pakistan’s past mistake is indeed complex and sensitive. It is widely believed that Pakistan had every right to defend its independence and territorial integrity, and it was the Bengali separatists in league with India who were responsible for atrocities and bloodshed of 1971.
Z.A. Bhutto first floated idea of a confederation. It has remained a fantasy so far but improvement of relations between the two countries is not only a possibility but also a necessity for the greater good of both states. The relations between the two countries had improved significantly under the rule of Prime Minister Khalida Zia. Relations again nosedived in 2013-2016 when Pakistan officially protested the death sentence awarded to the Jamat-i-Islami leaders for war crimes and collaboration with the Pakistan army during 1971. Then PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed was seen as a close confidant of Narendra Modi.
The issue of Pakistan’s apology to Bangladesh is like a thorn in the throat that prevents the two countries to improve bilateral relations. In recent days there has been some improvement in the relations between the two countries, perhaps due to China’s increased economic presence in South Asia and the short-sighted policies towards Muslims of India adopted by the BJP government.
During the last 50 years, many Pakistanis including myself have held the view that Pakistan must apologise to Bangladesh for the happenings in 1971. On the other side, many intellectuals, historians and the ISPR have insisted that Pakistan should not apologise because violence was committed from both sides.
Sarmila Bose in her book, titled Dead Reckoning, strongly questions the veracity of the Bangladeshi claim about the millions of deaths, injuries and rapes during the civil war in East Pakistan. The recent documentary by Javed Jabbar, Separation of East Pakistan: The Untold Story, that tries to vindicate Yahya Khan and insists that the military operation in East Pakistan was necessary because the Mukti Bahini trained and armed by India had begun to target non-Bengalis and Pakistan security forces.
In the best interest of both countries, Pakistan must tender an unconditional apology to Bangladesh. Only then can it hope for better relations with Bangladesh.
Reciprocating the same sentiments, Bangladesh PM sent a letter of congratulation to Pakistan on the Pakistan Republic Day.
The relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have been lukewarm or at times strained since the war in 1971, when instead of going for a democratic resolution, Pakistan adopted the way of violence and war. First it launched the Operation Searchlight, that proved to be the last nail in the coffin of a united Pakistan, and then the massive crackdown on the Bengali nationalists that led to a war with India and subsequent humiliation of the surrender. According to Bangladeshi sources, around three million people lost their lives and millions more became homeless in the war. Charges of atrocities and extra-judicial killings have been levied by both sides but all the figures of deaths and injuries are highly controversial.
The issue of acknowledging Pakistan’s past mistake is indeed complex and sensitive. It is widely believed that Pakistan had every right to defend its independence and territorial integrity, and it was the Bengali separatists in league with India who were responsible for atrocities and bloodshed of 1971.
Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1974 after the Islamic summit in Lahore and Pakistan’s formal recognition of Bangladesh. But it was only recently when the two countries witnessed an unprecedented warmth between the two states.
Pakistani author Anum Zakaria believes that Pakistan must first “acknowledge the violence of 1971 as well as the political, economic and cultural discrimination prior to Bangladesh’s birth… Owning up to the past and issuing a formal apology for war crimes committed in 1971 will allow the two countries to deepen diplomatic and economic relations”.
She further adds: "Half a century later, Pakistan has not owned its past. Textbooks, museum exhibits and mainstream narratives continue to distort and erase history and a selective remembering and forgetting of the past has been institutionalized by the state… The denial and minimizing of violence 50 years on is deeply painful for Bangladeshi survivors and their families. Pakistan's acknowledgement is critical… Nations cannot simply erase their history and move on. Our past will continue to haunt our present unless we engage deeply and learn from it”.
The issue of acknowledging Pakistan’s past mistake is indeed complex and sensitive. It is widely believed that Pakistan had every right to defend its independence and territorial integrity, and it was the Bengali separatists in league with India who were responsible for atrocities and bloodshed of 1971.
Z.A. Bhutto first floated idea of a confederation. It has remained a fantasy so far but improvement of relations between the two countries is not only a possibility but also a necessity for the greater good of both states. The relations between the two countries had improved significantly under the rule of Prime Minister Khalida Zia. Relations again nosedived in 2013-2016 when Pakistan officially protested the death sentence awarded to the Jamat-i-Islami leaders for war crimes and collaboration with the Pakistan army during 1971. Then PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed was seen as a close confidant of Narendra Modi.
The issue of Pakistan’s apology to Bangladesh is like a thorn in the throat that prevents the two countries to improve bilateral relations. In recent days there has been some improvement in the relations between the two countries, perhaps due to China’s increased economic presence in South Asia and the short-sighted policies towards Muslims of India adopted by the BJP government.
The issue of Pakistan’s apology to Bangladesh is like a thorn in the throat that prevents the two countries to improve bilateral relations. In recent days there has been some improvement in the relations between the two countries, perhaps due to China’s increased economic presence in South Asia and the short-sighted policies towards Muslims of India adopted by the BJP government.
During the last 50 years, many Pakistanis including myself have held the view that Pakistan must apologise to Bangladesh for the happenings in 1971. On the other side, many intellectuals, historians and the ISPR have insisted that Pakistan should not apologise because violence was committed from both sides.
Sarmila Bose in her book, titled Dead Reckoning, strongly questions the veracity of the Bangladeshi claim about the millions of deaths, injuries and rapes during the civil war in East Pakistan. The recent documentary by Javed Jabbar, Separation of East Pakistan: The Untold Story, that tries to vindicate Yahya Khan and insists that the military operation in East Pakistan was necessary because the Mukti Bahini trained and armed by India had begun to target non-Bengalis and Pakistan security forces.
In the best interest of both countries, Pakistan must tender an unconditional apology to Bangladesh. Only then can it hope for better relations with Bangladesh.