In a significant diplomatic development, Bangladesh and Pakistan—two nations divided by a bitter war in 1971—agreed on Sunday to bolster their historically strained relationship, with a primary focus on enhancing trade. The move was cemented during a visit to Dhaka by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, the most senior Pakistani official to travel to Bangladesh since 2012. “The scope and possibility of doing good for the two peoples of our two countries is tremendous,” Dar remarked, signaling a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.
Despite the forward-looking economic agreements, a core historical grievance remains unresolved. Dhaka has long sought a formal apology from Islamabad for the widespread atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the 1971 conflict when East Pakistan broke away to become Bangladesh. While this key issue was not solved, Dhaka’s foreign affairs adviser, Mohammad Touhid Hossain, confirmed a mutual understanding to move forward. “We have reached a consensus that the pending issues must be resolved so they don’t stand as obstacles in our relationship,” Hossain stated, as both sides signed pacts to deepen economic and cultural ties.
This rapprochement is being closely watched by regional power India, whose relationship with Dhaka has cooled considerably. Tensions between Bangladesh and India emerged in August 2024 after a mass uprising led to the ousting of autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who subsequently fled to India for refuge. The shifting dynamics between Dhaka and Islamabad are therefore of significant geopolitical interest in South Asia.
