The relationship between Dhaka and Islamabad has been extremely strained over the last decade.
Bangladesh maintains that in order to have a meaningful relationship, there are a number of pending issues that need to be resolved, not least an official apology to the nation for Pakistan’s genocide in 1971.
Things have not been improved by Pakistan’s negative statements regarding war crimes trials, which Bangladesh considers as interference in the internal affairs of the country.
In recent times, both countries have also locked horns with regard to issuance of visas even for the officials of their respective missions.
As a result, there have been practically no bilateral engagements between the two nations, leaving diplomatic relations between the countries more or less non-existent.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's telephone call to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday is significant.
It seems clear that Khan is making a play to re-set relations between the two countries, as confirmed by Muhammad Aurangzeb Haral, the spokesperson of Pakistan High Commission to Bangladesh, to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
The telephone conversation came on the eve of Prime Minister Hasina’s visit to India, the timing of which could not have been an accident or coincidence.
The fact that its arch-enemy is making a play to improve ties with Dhaka will surely not be lost on India, as it rolls out the red carpet for the Bangladesh prime minister.
Spokesperson Haral is quick to point out the steps taken by Pakistan in recent months to move the relationship with Bangladesh to firmer footing: “As part of Prime Minister Khan’s efforts, Bangladesh has been placed in Category A in terms of getting Pakistani visas. Earlier, Dhaka was in Category C. The elevation means that Bangladesh nationals will now get visas more frequently and quickly. And it was a unilateral move on the part of Pakistan.”
Haral also mentioned the recent appointment of a new high commissioner for Bangladesh after the earlier nomination made by Islamabad was not accepted by Dhaka.
“These all are efforts of the prime minister to make the ties stronger,” he said. “Unfortunately, our relationship is not where it should be.”
“We also want good relations with Islamabad provided that we understand each other well. Let’s see how things evolve in the coming days,” said a senior Bangladeshi diplomat, when contacted for comment by Dhaka Tribune.
