2024-09-04 14:04:31
Dhaka: Recently, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif called Bangladesh’s acting Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus for the first time after he took power. Both of them talked for a long time. During Sheikh Hasina’s tenure as Prime Minister, the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh had reached rock bottom for 15 years. Sheikh Hasina had taken strict action against pro-Pakistan groups. Pakistan tried many times to get Sheikh Hasina to give it relief but it did not happen. Now, after Sheikh Hasina has left the country, Pakistan has again come into action. Many senior Pakistani diplomats who have worked in Bangladesh have now prepared a strategic paper for the Shahbaz government. This plan of Pakistan can increase India’s tension. The Pakistan government, in collaboration with Jamaat-e-Islami, may further intensify propaganda and terrorist activities against India.
According to Pakistani media, Shahbaz Sharif recently called retired high commissioners and other diplomats who had worked in Bangladesh and held serious discussions on the political changes in Dhaka. During this, a plan was also made about what Pakistan’s strategy should be. These officials said on the condition of anonymity that this meeting was called by Shahbaz Sharif himself so that inputs could be obtained from retired officials about Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina is now in India and after the arrival of the Yunus government, Pakistan sees an opportunity in this.
‘Pakistan should capitalise on the developments in Bangladesh’
The Sheikh Hasina government was so tough against Pakistan that no Pakistani leader had the courage to negotiate with them to improve relations. Sheikh Hasina had clearly said that there would be no talks with Pakistan until it apologizes for its crimes of 1971. In view of the recent changes, retired Pakistani diplomats have given many suggestions to the Shahbaz government. They told Shahbaz Sharif that Pakistan should take advantage of the developments in Bangladesh but it has to be cautious and adopt clever diplomacy.
These diplomats have advised the Pakistan government not to take sides and strengthen relations with the Bangladeshi people. The Pakistan government should not take any step that sends the message that it is interfering in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. A Pakistani diplomat said, ‘The people of Bangladesh are independent thinkers. They will not accept the hegemony of any country.’ He advised Shahbaz not to look at relations with Bangladesh through the lens of India. Whatever the future of relations between India and Bangladesh, Pakistan will have to follow its own path. Also, a dynamic High Commissioner should be posted in Dhaka.