Pakistan still owes Bangladesh an apology

At the height of the Cold War, half a century ago, Bangladesh triumphed over Pakistan in a nine-month war for independence in 1971. The war is marked by a violent series of atrocities and massacres that met with mass resistance from ordinary Bangladeshis, which drew considerable global attention. As of today, Pakistan has not officially apologised to Bangladesh for the genocide committed during the war. Last year, Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani diplomat, said, "The people of Pakistan should urge their government to offer a formal apology to the people of Bangladesh for the genocide committed against the Bengalis by its military in 1971." This raises an enduring question, like old wine in a new bottle: Should Pakistan formally issue an apology to Bangladesh?

What happened in the nine months of the Liberation War speaks of a horror tale of gruesome killing and mayhem. The war ended with the surrender of the Pakistani occupational forces on December 16, 1971, with a death toll of three million people, hundreds of thousands of girls and women raped, and almost 10 million displaced, fleeing to India as refugees. It is to be noted that the number of people killed by the Pakistani military is the highest in such a short span of time. Though Pakistan recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign nation-state in 1974 under tremendous world pressure, Bangladesh is yet to overcome its traumatic past.

Pakistan has indirectly apologised to Bangladesh several times. The first acknowledgement of the crimes committed came during a tripartite accord signed among Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, when the Pakistan side said, "(The) Pakistani government condemned and deeply regretted any crimes that may have been committed." The second indirect apology came in 2002 when then Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf visited Bangladesh and wrote in the official visitors' book, "Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pains of the events of 1971. The excesses committed during the unfortunate period are regrettable." Though these statements are close to offering an apology, they are obviously neither formal nor enough to overcome the troubling past.

There are at least three concrete reasons why Pakistan should formally apologise to Bangladesh. First, a formal apology will relieve the Pakistanis' burden by creating space for compunction and fostering the healing process for the Bangladeshis. After all, ordinary citizens are the key drivers of a fruitful bilateral relation. Offering an apology will not belittle Pakistan; rather, it will brighten its image in the world at a time when the country is encountering an increasing isolation on the global stage. Also, a dignified remorse would help Pakistan to avoid permanent embarrassment, and would open an avenue for a new partnership with a rising regional player. That Germany officially apologised to Namibia for the genocide committed by the German colonisers between 1904 and 1908 should serve as an example for Pakistan.

Second, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the two South Asian Muslim majority countries, have common membership in almost all regional and global platforms—e.g. Saarc, D8, OIC, Commonwealth, etc—which resonate with common interests. There is a huge market and untapped trade potential between these countries. Neither can reap the fullest economic and strategic benefits until Pakistan decides to remove the thorn stuck in its throat. Most critically, the convergence in mutual geostrategic outlook should incentivise Pakistan to mend the fence by offering a formal apology to Bangladesh.

Third, apart from an outstanding unconditional apology, there are some long-pending issues acting as major stumbling blocks to a healthy bilateral relation. According to Bangladesh, Pakistan holds at least USD 4.5 billion of its assets, including money in Pakistani banks, frozen after the war. Besides, the repatriation of the stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh remains a distant reality, mainly because of Islamabad's reluctance to take them back. A formal apology from Pakistan will not only normalise the relations, but could also act as a catalyst to redress the aforementioned complexities.

The war crimes committed by the Pakistani occupation forces against Bangladeshis are as clear as daylight, which Pakistan should not even dare to ignore or simply dub as a mistake. Pakistan should remember that no nation can move forward without confronting its dark past. The genocide of 1971 is one of the worst that the world witnessed in the 20th century, which Pakistan can't recall, but Bangladesh can't forget. The genocide of Bangladesh reminds us of William Gladstone's quote, "Justice delayed is justice denied."

Undoubtedly, unconditional public apology is the most courteous thing that could have been done with minimal efforts from Pakistan. But we are actually stuck with the wrong question. Rather, the question should be: Should Bangladesh forgive Pakistan if they seek unconditional apology? Recent efforts—lifting visa restrictions for Bangladeshis, telephone dialogue with Bangladesh, etc—demonstrate that Pakistan is interested in turning the page of this strained relationship. If Islamabad genuinely wants to defrost its ties with Dhaka, it should take credible action on the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report and apologise officially to Dhaka. Only then could Dhaka consider forgiving Islamabad for its bitter past. Not to mention, a country with minimal respect for established international laws and norms would not find it difficult to offer a heartfelt apology for the genocide it perpetrated.

Hussain Shazzad is a strategic affairs and foreign policy analyst.