Those were the historical moments when, recently, the first cargo ship in decades to sail directly from Karachi to Chittagong successfully unloaded its containers, signaling a thaw between Pakistan and Bangladesh after decades of frozen ties and glacial relationship. In August, the toppling of a fascist regime led by Sheikh Hasina Wajid brought about a flurry of positive developments not only within Bangladesh, but the regime change has also opened the doors to rebuilding Dhaka’s bilateral ties with Islamabad with a renewed zeal and regained fervour. However, instead of pursuing knee-jerk and impulsive diplomacy, both countries need to devise a long-term framework to strengthen genuine bilateralism based on a sustainable slew of confidence-building measures, given the shifting trends in the regional strategic landscape. This is essential considering the discernable presence of the chief spoiler next door, India, which must be hell-bent on casting a shadow over the celebration.
As it had already done in the past on many occasions, India is second to none in utilising all its nefarious tactics and unholy means to drive a wedge between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Installing and sponsoring for decades a totalitarian regime like that of Sheikh Hasina, New Delhi had already turned Bangladesh into not more than a vassal state to further its hegemonic agenda in the region and fan deep-seated hostility between Dhaka and Islamabad through incessant hate-mongering and ceaseless propaganda. Thanks to the Bangladeshi students’ eventful stand against the oppressive means of the ruling Awami League and its head honcho, things have now turned around in a positive direction, opening the rare window of opportunity for Pakistan and Bangladesh to leave their bitter past behind and step up to become a one-unit, if not as one country this time but as twin brotherly nations that were born together but torn apart in a tragic, blood-ridden turn of events by the folly of the then political leadership and through the continued avoidance of real issues facing the people of the erstwhile East Pakistan.
Governments come and go. However, a country must have a long-term vision for forming and maintaining relations with other nations. Since it is never too late to mend, now it is incumbent upon the political leadership of both countries to make the most of the occasion by extending their cooperation and support in the rest of the socio-economic areas and cultural domains other than economics. Together, Islamabad and Dhaka can best address their shared concerns and benefit from their experiences in poverty alleviation, disaster management, women empowerment, employment creation, industrial growth, literacy growth, and all those unresolved issues owing to the acute lack of required resources and expertise. Although Pakistan and Bangladesh are not immediate neighbours due to geographic limitations, they are much more than natural allies and can extend their relations further by sustainably catalyzing their holistic diplomatic activities. The New Year heralds the dawn of a new day for Pakistan and Bangladesh. The opportunity should not be missed this time.