Bangladesh-Pakistan reconciliation: Denial of ‘71 genocide still remains the key barrier

Illustration: TBS

In his recent visit to Dhaka, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar claimed that two of the three unresolved issues stemming from 1971, including Pakistan's apology for the genocide, have already been settled, citing the 1974 tripartite agreement and former President Pervez Musharraf's remarks in the early 2000s.

"I think between a family, between brothers, once this is done, even Islam tells us to clean your heart," he said. But perhaps Dar has forgotten that just 10 years ago, Islamabad had backtracked on those very remarks by Musharraf, rejecting the insinuation of "complicity in committing crimes or war atrocities". Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain has stood firm: Dhaka continues to seek an official apology. So, if it is reconciliation that Pakistan wants, is denying responsibility the way to achieve it? Experts weigh in on the issue.

Wounds of '71 remain unhealed

Dr Sarwar Ali 

President, Chhayanaut and Trustee, Liberation War Museum

Strengthening trade and improving ties with Bangladesh is something everyone would welcome. Yet a wound from 1971 remains. There is not a single district or place in the country without a mass grave. While initiatives have been taken over the decades to address these matters, many remain unresolved. Just yesterday, Pakistan's foreign minister suggested in a general statement that the issues had been resolved twice. It is very difficult to agree with this.

He referred to 1974. At that time, there was an agreement concerning those who had taken refuge in India and the return of Bangladeshis stranded in Pakistan. As part of that arrangement, Bangladesh handed over 195 identified war criminals who had committed atrocities. Bangladesh demanded justice. However, the superpowers of the time wanted the situation to normalise quickly, and for that reason the demand for accountability was not made part of a specific agreement. Nevertheless, the demand existed, and Pakistan admitted it would conduct trials.

But did those trials take place? Not a single one. This failure remains a violation of international moral standards and legal principles. Half a century later, no trial has happened.

The question of an apology is similarly unresolved. There was no mention of one in the 1974 agreement. Only in 2000 did President Pervez Musharraf offer what was seen as an unofficial state apology. Since then, our Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and Foreign Secretary Shahnaz Sumi have both raised the issue in meetings. If this matter had been resolved, it could have removed many of the obstacles to reconciliation. Instead, it has been consistently avoided.

Another significant issue is the matter of dues owed to Bangladesh by Pakistan. This amount is huge — estimated at around $2.4 billion. A major portion relates to jute. By international legal standards, this should have been settled long ago. Yet it remains unsettled.

These three issues — the failure to try war criminals, the absence of an official apology, and the unpaid dues — lie at the core of the unresolved relationship. We remain hopeful that discussions will one day bring a settlement. Otherwise, while business may continue, the wound will remain.

To begin a true healing process, these matters must be confronted. Dust cannot simply be brushed aside. Unless the unresolved issues of 1971 are addressed, it will be very difficult for Bangladesh–Pakistan relations to ever truly normalise.

TBS' Nasif Tanjim spoke to Sarwar Ali over the phone.

Perpetrators of 1971 massacre must be held accountable

Mofidul Hoque

Founder Trustee, Liberation War Museum

They carried out one of the most brutal massacres in history. And those who committed this massacre — the Pakistani rulers and military — are firmly inscribed in history. 

The perpetrators were a small group, yet they gained broad support by spreading propaganda and misleading the people. It is very important to free ourselves from that.

Equally important is ensuring justice for the perpetrators, upholding truth and fairness through proper trial. Even after 50 years, Pakistan has not learned any lesson. This is evident in their own society, which has failed to build genuine harmony. When their leaders come to Bangladesh and attempt to justify the massacre, it is deeply unfortunate.

Therefore, Bangladesh's position must be clear: the perpetrators of this massacre must be identified and held accountable. 

Bangladesh had made significant progress in this regard at the national level, but at the international stage it remained unfinished. What happened here must be presented to Pakistani people, while also ensuring that our own people are not misled. In this way, we can build a stronger sense of national unity.

TBS' Imran Hossain spoke to Mofidul Hoque over the phone.

Pakistan may believe the matter is settled, but we do not

Humayun Kabir 

Former Bangladesh Ambassador to US 

Ishaq Dar spoke of reconciliation and closure, but in fact that is for us to say, because we were the victims of those crimes. What we are demanding is that Pakistan acknowledge the grave atrocities it committed during the Liberation War of 1971 — crimes against humanity such as genocide, mass killings, rape, and arson. These are heinous crimes, and Pakistan bears responsibility for them.

In return, he has said that the matter was resolved twice. But that is simply not true. The April 1974 tripartite agreement was specifically about the return of Pakistani prisoners of war held in India, including 195 army officers against whom there were concrete allegations of involvement in war crimes, and about the repatriation of Bangalis detained in Pakistan.

At that time, Pakistan's then foreign minister said, if any crime had been committed, they condemned it. But there was no admission of guilt. And yet the entire world is witness to what happened. Even Pakistan's own Hamoodur Rahman Commission report acknowledged those crimes. So, there is no scope for denial — crimes were committed, and Pakistan is accountable.

This accountability rests on three pillars. 

First, the moral aspect: they committed the crimes and, morally, they must acknowledge them. Second, the legal aspect: under international law, crimes of this nature — genocide, mass killings —  have no statute of limitations. Justice may be pursued even a hundred years later. 

And third, the right to compensation: the victims in Bangladesh are entitled to demand reparations. We have seen this precedent in the case of Japan and South Korea, where Korean women subjected to wartime atrocities received compensation and an apology decades later, even after 70 or 75 years.

In that light, I believe Pakistan must openly admit its crimes and apologise to Bangladesh. Only then can we, with sympathy and consideration, think of moving forward. That is why I say the remarks made by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, though made as our honoured guest — and we accorded him full respect — are not accurate. This issue has not been settled. Settlement must come by addressing those three dimensions of responsibility. There can be no casual approach to such a serious matter.

If relations between the two countries are to move forward on the basis of trust and credibility, then this issue must be resolved. We are not challenging him — he is our respected guest, and he has made his point. But our foreign affairs adviser has also expressed Bangladesh's position with courtesy and logic. Now, the people of Bangladesh, and indeed others, will judge Dar's statement for what it is. The question would not even have arisen had he not made such a claim.

Pakistan may believe the matter is settled, but we do not. Their foreign minister at the time said if crimes had been committed. There is no "if" — Pakistan itself has admitted that crimes were committed. So, the settlement Dar refers to simply does not exist. It must still take place. And from Pakistan, we expect sincerity and openness if they truly wish to build normal relations with Bangladesh.

War crimes never age, neither have 1971's

Altaf Parvez

Researcher, South and Southeast Asian History And Politics

What Ishaq Dar said is not true. The 1971 issue has not been resolved.

When Bangladesh was part of Pakistan, there was a common foreign currency division. After the country gained independence, the foreign currency reserves could have been divided among both nations, but that did not happen. 

Moreover, in 1970, a devastating cyclone struck Bhola. As a result, a lot of foreign aid came in, estimated to be around Tk20 billion. But since the war broke out, that aid was never distributed. That money still rightly belongs to Bangladesh because the cyclone occurred in this region.

The biggest unresolved issue, however, is the war crimes of 1971. What the Pakistan army did was a crime against humanity. In 1974, there was an act of pardon, but that was on a different matter — it concerned the 195 Pakistani soldiers captured by India. 

The agreement was only about returning them. Bangladesh forgave them in this matter, but the war crimes committed against the entire country remain unresolved. Regarding the China and Korea wars, Korean women are still claiming compensation. Likewise, the 1971 issue is a grave matter — crimes never get old.

Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain has already stated that the 1971 issue has not been resolved. Both sides will continue discussions in the future regarding the unresolved issues. Because this is not a matter of the government's will, but the rightful claim of the people. 

TBS' Ariful Hasan Shuvo spoke to Altaf Parvez over the phone.