Pakistan should apologise to Bangladesh

Secretary General of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed has demanded that Pakistan should come up with an apology for what, he said, the crimes committed against the Bangladeshi brethrens before and after 1971.

The demand came at a joint Pak-Bangladesh media seminar on 'Regional Stability and Cooperation: Challenges and Security' organised by Jang Group of Newspapers in Islamabad on Monday.

"There is nothing to hide on what happened in 1971. What Pakistan did against Bengalis in 1971 can well be dubbed as a crime instead of mistakes. The world is changing over, Japan apologised to China, Pakistan should also come up with an apology," he said.

Mushahid, also chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, further said the issues which are of vital importance including the outstanding issue of division of assets between the two countries and that of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh should also be taken up.

Presenting a broad overview of relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, Mushahid said the relations between the two countries are passing through a transformation. Both the countries have convergence of views on various regional and international issues.

He said Pak-Bangladesh relations are primarily driven by energy and economy requirements of the two countries.

He underlined the need for cooperation at the level of academia, media and politics.

Mushahid said Pakistan and Bangladesh had been facing blames for having terrorist camps.

He said terrorism has no religion and borders, and it was important that the West review the policy of accusing Muslim countries.

He termed China's joining of the Saarc as an observer and Afghanistan's becoming its member 'a big development'.

The participants at the seminar were of the view that the main reason for sensitive and complex relations between the two countries has been the events of 1971.

The 10-member Bangladesh delegation is headed by Prof Dr Tarique Shamsur Rehman of the University Grants Commission.

Taking part in the discussions, Assistant Professor of the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University Lailafor Yasmin pressed for taking up all other outstanding issues between the two countries, including those of the division of assets and stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh.