Bangladesh Calls Upon Pakistan to Apologize for War Crimes in 1971

Pakistan government's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka a couple of days ago. She had meetings with higher officials belonging to Bangladesh interim government. Bangladesh has called upon Pakistan through Amna Baloch to apologize to Bangladesh for committing war crimes during the Liberation War of 1971.

Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday (18 April 2025) acknowledged that outstanding issues were discussed during the high-level diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh in the middle of reports of the country seeking a formal apology from Pakistan for the undesirable events of 1971.

The two countries were once one nation but split following a blood-spilling war, which saw the territory previously referred to as 'East Pakistan' seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka last week for Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) after a 15-year break in diplomatic exchange with Bangladesh.

Following the meeting, international media outlets and Bangladesh's leading news agencies and Bengali and English newspapers reported that Bangladesh asked for a formal apology for the atrocities committed by Pakistan in the then East Pakistan in 1971 and sought compensation among other demands.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin said that the compensation included foreign aid, unpaid provident funds, savings instruments and $200 million given by international donors for the 1970 cyclone. Some media outlets quoted Jashim Uddin as saying: "These issues need to be resolved to establish a solid foundation for our bilateral relations."

Questioned about the media reports during his weekly press briefing on Friday the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson said "Some outstanding issues were indeed discussed during the consultations. However, both sides stated their respective positions on them in an environment of mutual understanding and respect."

Pakistan Foreign Ministry official Shafqat Ali Khan said that fake news or sensational news by different angles were trying to undermine the growing reconciliation between the Bangladesh and Pakistan. "The foreign secretary level consultations took place in a very cordial and constructive atmosphere," Shafqat Ali Khan asserted.

"The conduct of these consultations after a gap of 15 years is a testimony to the existing goodwill and cordiality between Pakistan and Bangladesh," Shafqat Ali Khan said, commenting that misleading reports must not be allowed to undermine the significance of the important development in bilateral relations between Dhaka and Islamabad.

Shafqat Ali Khan reiterated "Some outstanding issues were indeed discussed during the consultations. However, both sides stated their respective positions on them in an environment of mutual understanding and respect."

Earlier in his address, Shafqat Ali Khan said the talks were held in a friendly and hospitable atmosphere and reflected a shared resolve to revitalize bilateral engagement.

According to Shafqat Ali Khan, the two sides held a "comprehensive exchange" on political, economic, cultural, educational and strategic cooperation that was "underpinned by shared history, cultural affinities and the common aspirations of their peoples".

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan further said that officials from both Bangladesh and Pakistan expressed satisfaction at recent high-level contacts in New York, Cairo, Samoa and Jeddah, which had helped reenergize the bilateral relationship, according to Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry has informed that discussants from both Dhaka and Islamabad emphasized the necessity of sustaining momentum through regular institutional dialogue, early finalization of pending agreements and enhanced cooperation in trade, agriculture, education and connectivity. Pakistan offered academic opportunities in its agricultural universities, while Bangladesh offered technical training in fisheries and maritime studies. The Bangladeshi side also acknowledged scholarship offers from private universities in Pakistan and underscored the need for deeper cooperation in the education sector.

However, ever since a countrywide spontaneous mass uprising that saw former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government toppled in August 2024, with the deposed premier escaping to her old ally India, there has been a thaw in ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with trade and bilateral relations seeing remarkable progress.

During a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the D-8 summit of developing nations in Cairo in December 2024, Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus had expressed the desire to sort out unresolved grievances that arose from the Liberation War of 1971.

A number of international media agencies reported that Dr. Muhammad Yunus said to Pakistan Premier Shehbaz Sharif "The issues have kept coming again and again. Let's settle those issues for us to move forward." In January 2025, the military forces of Pakistan and Bangladesh had stressed the need for an enduring partnership between the two countries to remain resilient against external influences.

History shows that three million people in Bangladesh were killed in the Liberation War of 1971. Pakistan Army and their local collaborators carried out arsons, rape, genocides and many other forms of human rights violations and felonies on the soil of then East Pakistan during the war. Patriotic citizens including academic scholars, cultural organizers, journalists, politicians and several student fronts over and over again urged Pakistan during the preceding years to apologize to Bangladesh for the war crimes committed by Pakistan Army in 1971 but Pakistan has not yet issued any official apologetic statement on behalf of the Pakistani ruling authorities.

Eminent jurist Dr. Shah Deen Malik said that it can't be denied that war crimes were massively committed during the Liberation War of 1971. Since the political scenario in Bangladesh has drastically changed and this change has impacted Bangladesh's foreign affairs issues, India is facing more or less denigration from people in Bangladesh from all walks of life. Sustaining strong and effective relations with neighbours is very important, Dr. Shah Deen Malik stated. He commented that as Pakistan is now showing active interest to restore amity with Bangladesh, both sides should pay due honour to one another. From this point of view, Pakistan can expose its broad heart by saying sorry to Bangladesh for the catastrophe that occurred in 1971 through the occupation tactics of Pakistan Army.

Professor Dr. Rasheduzzaman, Department of International Relations, Dhaka University, said that the 1971 war is a glaring issue between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Until and unless the confabulations regarding 1971 are properly addressed and taken care of by the Pakistan government, reconsolidating fraternity between Pakistan and Bangladesh will remain a very big challenge.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Dr. Moyeen Khan said that the contribution of martyrs during 1971 for Bangladesh's liberation cannot be undermined. "We must value the spirit of 1971 while we cannot disregard the spontaneous mass upsurge of 2024 which released Bangladesh from a fascist and autocratic regime. The overthrown Awami League government was excessively loyal to India which angered millions of people across Bangladesh. It happened due to lack of geopolitical far-sight on behalf of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her colleagues. Pakistan should comply with the rightful demands from Bangladesh in order to fortify alliance between the two countries."