Pakistan and Post-Hasina Bangladesh Forge Closer Ties Amid India Concerns
With Sheikh Hasina’s exit, Pakistan and Bangladesh strengthen relations as both nations navigate growing anti-India sentiment.
Islamabad, Pakistan – Seated at a table adorned with their respective national flags, Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, engaged in discussions with Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan of the Bangladesh military.
The meeting marked a significant step in Hassan’s visit to Islamabad, where he held talks with other senior military officials. Describing the event, Pakistan’s military media wing characterized the relationship between the two countries as "brotherly nations."
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
The historically fraught ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which has endured for 54 years since Bangladesh’s independence, appear to be softening. Tensions deepened during Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule, but following her removal in August amid mass protests, Islamabad and Dhaka are now taking steps toward a diplomatic reset.
Munir and Hassan emphasized the importance of stronger military cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to insulating their partnership from external influences. This meeting was one of a series of high-level engagements between the two nations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently met Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, during an international summit in Cairo, following their earlier discussion at the UN General Assembly in September. Additionally, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit Bangladesh next month—the first such trip since 2012—indicating potential shifts in South Asian geopolitics.
Addressing Historical Animosity
The roots of discord between Islamabad and Dhaka stem from the 1971 war of liberation, in which Pakistan’s military and allied militias committed atrocities against Bengali rebels. Independent estimates suggest that at least 200,000 women were subjected to violence and hundreds of thousands lost their lives. While Pakistan officially recognized Bangladesh’s independence in 1974, unresolved issues—including a formal apology, repatriation of Urdu-speaking Pakistanis, and division of pre-1971 assets—continue to linger.
During his Cairo meeting with Sharif, Yunus urged Pakistan to address these longstanding concerns. "Let’s resolve these issues once and for all for the sake of future generations," Yunus reportedly stated. Sharif, in response, committed to reviewing "outstanding issues."
Changing Regional Dynamics
Experts suggest that worsening India-Bangladesh ties under Hasina’s government, coupled with political realignments, may have motivated Dhaka’s leadership to recalibrate its foreign policy. The current administration in Bangladesh has even requested New Delhi to extradite Hasina for legal proceedings over alleged human rights violations during her tenure.
Former Pakistani diplomat Ashraf Qureshi noted that with deteriorating Bangladesh-India relations, "Pakistan naturally emerges as an alternative diplomatic partner." However, analysts also caution that Bangladesh’s geographic and economic ties with India remain significant, and a complete diplomatic pivot remains unlikely.
Broader Geopolitical Shifts
Pakistan-Bangladesh rapprochement coincides with India’s increasing engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. Despite refraining from formal recognition, India has held multiple high-level meetings with Taliban officials. This growing India-Taliban engagement has irked Pakistan, which previously served as a key patron of the group but has since faced escalating cross-border violence linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Former diplomat Burhanul Islam believes the evolving Pakistan-Bangladesh relationship signals "a new beginning" following Hasina’s exit. "Bangladesh may be seeking military cooperation and security support from Pakistan," Islam observed.
Economic Prospects
Bangladesh’s rapidly growing economy presents another incentive for improved Pakistan-Bangladesh ties. With an annual growth rate of 6 percent since 2021, Bangladesh outpaces Pakistan’s 2.5 percent growth. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached over $700 million last year, though Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh significantly outweigh imports.
King’s College London’s Walter Ladwig suggests that Pakistan sees an "economic opening" in strengthening ties with Bangladesh. Trade relations, visa access, and direct flight connections could improve in the near future, fostering deeper diplomatic engagement.
"Pakistan recognizes an opportunity to improve relations," Ladwig said. "While historical tensions persist, this emerging diplomatic shift is worth watching."
Source: Al Jazeera