Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan telephoned his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina
Calcutta:
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s phone call to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and a press release from Islamabad saying Mr. Khan shared his concerns over Jammu and Kashmir has generated buzz due to the changing dynamics in the vicinity of India and clashes with China along the Line of Real Control in Ladakh.
As ties with Nepal have deteriorated in recent months, the successful openings from Islamabad to Dhaka have given rise to speculation about a possible dilution of Bangladesh’s pro-Indian stance.
There are fears that China, already a powerful influencer in Bangladesh, may have played a role in the phone call, which comes after months of strained relations.
On Kashmir, contrasting statements emerged from the two countries.
Dhaka’s brief two-paragraph statement made no mention of Kashmir at all, saying the two leaders discussed the coronavirus crisis and flooding in Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s eight-paragraph statement said Prime Minister Imran Khan “shared Pakistan’s views” on Kashmir and “underlined the importance of a peaceful resolution.”
The Foreign Ministry said there was no cause for concern. “Our relationship with Bangladesh is time-tested and historic. We appreciate their consistent position that Jammu and Kashmir and all of its developments are internal Indian affairs. It is a position they still have. adopted, “Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said when asked about developments at a press meeting in New Delhi on Friday.
But some foreign policy experts are not convinced.
“Of course India should be worried,” said Subir Bhaumik, Calcutta-based analyst and editor of the Eastern Link news portal. “The way the restoration of diplomatic relations has taken place between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the sudden change of mood, especially at a time when India is having problems with China in Ladakh, smacks of some diplomatic maneuvering behind the scenes.” Mr. Bhaumik said. .
The pro-Pakistan voices in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office are of particular concern, he added, “and Kashmir is uplifted.”
“Sheikh Hasina crossed paths with a Laxman Rekha in a pretty decisive manner,” added Mr. Bhaumik.
Sources said there had been no outreach in India from Bangladesh after talks with Imran Khan.
Former Foreign Minister Krishnan Srinivasan says there is no cause for alarm. “Two regional prime ministers talking is not unusual. As prime ministers of two Islamic countries, it is no surprise that Kashmir has featured in their talks,” he said.
When Jammu and Kashmir’s special powers granted under Section 370 were removed, Dhaka took the position that this was an internal Indian matter.
This is what Dhaka had also said about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
But its Foreign Minister Abdul Moomen canceled his December visit to Delhi after saying the Citizenship (Amendment) Act could weaken India’s historic character as a secular nation.
Mr Moomen also raised the New Delhi branch in early July when he met Pakistan’s new envoy in Dhaka.
Some analysts have said Islamabad’s voice is louder these days than before in Dhaka, even within the prime minister’s office. One of the alleged pro-Pakistan voices is billionaire businessman Salman Fazlur Rehman, who was appointed private sector investment and industry advisor to Sheikh Hasina last year, sources said.
Salman Fazlur Rehman is the vice president of the country’s largest business conglomerate, Beximco.
A US Embassy cable published by WikiLeaks described him as “one of Bangladesh’s biggest defaulted debtors.”
