Pakistan’s former senator and retired Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum said that Pakistan and Bangladesh both countries are the victims of Indian terrorism.
Abdul Qayyum, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), made the remark in an exclusive interview with Banglanews24.
Pakistan has long sought to mend its strained relationship with Bangladesh, but the recent political shift in Dhaka, has reignited Islamabad's hopes for renewed diplomatic engagement.
That cautious optimism has gained momentum as Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is currently in Dhaka—marking the first secretary-level talks between the two countries in 15 years.
Her visit is expected to pave the way for a higher-level diplomatic push, with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar scheduled to travel to Bangladesh on April 27.
This visit carries significant weight—seen by some as an attempt to salvage the dimming embers of hope in Dhaka-Islamabad relations.
Earlier, in 2012, the then Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar, visited Dhaka to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
The interview was taken on the occasion of Ishaq Dar’s Bangladesh visit.
In the interview Abdul Qayyum emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Discussing Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements with Bangladeshi political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Qayyum said that Pakistan, like Bangladesh, is a peace-loving country.
He said that Pakistan’s strategic goals are centered on fostering a harmonious atmosphere in South Asia, strengthening relations with neighbours, and enhancing economic cooperation for regional prosperity.
On India’s growing strategic influence on Bangladesh’s foreign policy, Qayyum said that Bangladesh is a sovereign state capable of rejecting external pressure.
He expressed hope that India would refrain from subduing its neighbors, asserting that India faces internal challenges, including hunger and multiple insurgencies.
Qayyum criticized India's stance on Kashmir and its alleged involvement in using Afghan territory for terrorism in Pakistan, citing a report from the Washington Post.
Regarding Pakistan’s balancing act in South Asia, Qayyum remarked that India does not support Pakistan’s good relations with any South Asian nation, including Bangladesh.
He said that Pakistan considers Bangladesh a brotherly Muslim state with shared faith and ideology and alleged that both countries have been victims of Indian terrorism.
In the Interview Abdul Qayyum said that China, a key regional player, would support strong Pakistan-Bangladesh ties as both nations maintain significant trade relations with China and benefit from the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.
On trade relations under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, Qayyum highlighted that economic exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh remained below $1 billion annually. In 2022, Bangladesh imported $839 million worth of goods from Pakistan while exporting only $74 million.
He underscored that there is significant potential for expansion in bilateral trade.
In the end he said Ishaq Dar’s visit is expected to mark a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
BDST: 1658 HRS, April 18, 2025
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