Two days after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka for India following unrest in her country, Pakistan has finally reacted to the situation in Bangladesh, stating that it stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh.
In a carefully worded response, Pakistan said it hoped for a "peaceful and swift return to normalcy". "The government and people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, sincerely hoping for a peaceful and swift return to normalcy," the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
Islamabad has been, ironically, keeping mum on the developments in Bangladesh, which once was a part of it. Many think Pakistan's stance of not reacting to the unrest was deliberate and in view of the sensitivity involved.
"Pakistan's move not to officially comment on the events in Bangladesh is deliberate and keeping in view the sensitivities," diplomatic sources told Express Tribune. "But that does not mean that Pakistan is not following the developments that will have ramifications for the region and the country itself," a diplomatic source told the website.
He added that that though Islamabad was silent, policymakers were already discussing the possible implications, and importantly opportunities, to reset the troubled ties with Bangladesh.
Pakistan never shared warm relations with Hasina, considering the grudge her family had towards Pakistan's ruling class. Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, had sought Pakistan's apology for the events of 1971. Hasina's proximity with India too had soured Pakistan's relations with Bangladesh.
However, with the Awami League facing uncertainty, there are hopes that Pakistan might get a chance to reset its equations with Bangladesh, experts believe. The country hopes the next dispensation in Dhaka will unlikely be hostile towards Islamabad.
"India is obviously worried and concerned. Hence, Jaishankar in his address in Rajya Sabha was quite measured, leaving the door open for engagement with Dhaka. New Delhi would work hard to safeguard its diplomatic and economic interests as well as security for the Hindu community in Bangladesh," Abdul Basit, Pakistan's former ambassador to New Delhi, told Express Tribune.
He said Pakistan should not get overwhelmed with the change of government in Dhaka. "As for Pakistan, we must not get carried away and treat the change as their internal matter. We must avoid making loose and patronising statements," he added. "Now that Sheikh Hasina is gone, one can hope Dhaka would willingly respond to Pakistan's goodwill and work together to inject more and more substance into bilateral relations," Basit added.
