IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

26 Aug 2025 : Friends and foes

Editorial 2: ​Friends and foes

Context

Pakistan is filling the void created by the alienation of India from Bangladesh.

 

Introduction

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Dhaka, marking the first high-level visit in 13 years, amid efforts to repair strained bilateral ties. The meeting with the Bangladeshi interim government signals a focus on diplomatic engagement, trade, and regional cooperation, even as historical grievances and India’s strategic concerns continue to shape the context.

 

Pakistan’s High-Level Visit to Dhaka

  • Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Dhaka over the weekend, marking the first such visit in 13 years.
  • He met with members of the Bangladeshi interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, and held talks with his counterpart, Touhid Hossain.

 

Historical Context and Strained Relations

  • Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh had been tense since 2009, after Sheikh Hasina came to power.
  • Relations were strained due to:
    • Prosecution of collaborators during the 1971 liberation war,
    • The assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family in 1975,
    • The 2015 expulsion of a Pakistani diplomat linked to a terror group and the recall of Bangladesh’s High Commissioner.
  • Although envoys were later restored, repair efforts accelerated after Hasina’s ouster in August.
  • China facilitated a trilateral mechanism in Kunming involving Bangladesh and Pakistan to help nudge ties forward.

 

Agreements and Areas of Cooperation

  • In Dhaka, the two sides agreed to:
    • Restore visa facilitation for diplomats,
    • Reintroduce direct flights,
    • Provide scholarships for Bangladeshi students,
    • Explore ways to enhance trade, currently under $1 billion.

 

Outstanding Issues

  • The Yunus government continues to press decades-old demands from Pakistan, including:
    • Formal apology for the 1971 genocide,
    • Financial compensation,
    • Repatriation of “Stranded Pakistanis” or Urdu-speaking Muhajirs still loyal to Pakistan.
  • Regional cooperation was emphasized, including a revival of SAARC, by Mr. Yunus.

 

India’s Perspective

  • India views the thaw in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties with suspicion due to reports of:
    • Pakistani diplomats supporting Jamaat-e-Islaami student activists during anti-Hasina protests,
    • Growing military and intelligence contacts.
  • New Delhi risks being cut out of regional dynamics as Pakistan fills the void caused by strained India-Bangladesh ties.
  • Despite meetings between Indian and Bangladeshi leaders (e.g., Mr. Modi with Mr. Yunus in April), no visits or invitations have taken place recently.

 

Strategic Implications

  • With upcoming Bangladesh elections in February, India must:
    • Broaden political engagement with multiple parties,
    • Encourage a more inclusive process under the Yunus government.
  • Absence of a strong regional South Asian grouping makes it challenging for India to maintain influence over bilateral ties involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.

 

Conclusion

The visit highlights Pakistan-Bangladesh rapprochement through diplomatic talks, trade initiatives, and visa facilitation, but outstanding historical issues and regional strategic rivalries persist. For India, the development underscores the need for broader political engagement in Bangladesh and a realistic approach to managing South Asian regional dynamics.