Bangladesh PM snubs Imran's efforts to raise Kashmir in bilateral conversation

NEW DELHI: Pakistan PM's efforts to strike a chord with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina over Kashmir and SAARC was snubbed with Dhaka’s statement on telephone conversation totally ignoring both the issues.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan telephoned Hasina on Wednesday afternoon but did not receive any positive response in the backdrop of ruling Awami League’s difficult ties with Pakistan for decades. Awami League had been at the forefront of fight against Pak Army and ISI in 1971 and suffered maximum in the genocide.

Pakistan’s role in assassination of Hasina's father and Bangladesh’s first leader has been widely acknowledged. ISI-backed terror groups have been active in Bangladesh under BNP-Jamaat rule. But the Hasina government cracked down after it returned to power in 2008. Pak spy agency’s efforts to support BNP at last elections in 2018 was also foiled.


The statements by PakIstan and Bangladesh governments following the conversation were contrasting.

The foreign ministry of Pakistan issued a statement as did the office of the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office.

While Pakistan‘s statement said that Imran Khan spoke of the “grave situation” in what he called “Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” and the need for an early resolution of the problem, the Bangladesh government statement is totally silent on Jammu and Kashmir

While Pakistan has issued a nine paragraph statement, the Bangladesh government statement consists of two paragraphs.

Pakistan said Khan has invited Hasina to visit Pakistan but there is no reference to her acceptance. The Bangladeshi statement does not have any reference to it.