Apparently rejecting the facts on executed war criminals, Pakistan on Monday summoned Bangladesh acting High Commissioner in Islamabad and conveyed that it is important to move forward in the spirit of goodwill, friendship and harmony for the collective good of the people of Bangladesh and Pakistan.The Bangladesh diplomat was summoned to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Director General (SA & SAARC) and was informed that the government of Pakistan rejected what they said the ‘baseless and unfounded assertions’ of the Bangladesh government conveyed in its note of November 23, according to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Bangladesh, earlier in its protest note, informed Pakistan authorities that the unsolicited comments were nothing less than ‘brazen interference’ in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which was ‘unacceptable’ and hoped that Pakistan would refrain from continuing such uncalled for statements.It conveyed that Pakistan should in no way make biased, borrowed and unfounded comments about the independent judiciary of a sovereign country. “Pakistan also rejected insinuation of complicity in committing crimes or war atrocities.” Nothing could be further from the truth,” said a press release issued by the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is regrettable that attempts have been made by the government of Bangladesh to ‘malign Pakistan’, despite their ardent desire to develop brotherly relations with Bangladesh, it said. “Pakistan believes that the people of both countries not only want to maintain but also further strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood. However, sadly, the government of Bangladesh does not seem to respect these sentiments.” Pakistan reiterated its desire for further enhancing relations with Bangladesh, because they believe that the hearts of the people of Pakistan beat in unison with the people of Bangladesh, said the release. It is important for the two countries not to forget the role played by their people in the struggle for the establishment of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the South Asian sub-continent, it mentioned.The Pakistan Foreign Ministry media note also mentioned that the 1974 tripartite Agreement is the bedrock of relations between the two countries.It further said, “As regards the Bangladesh government’s contention that Pakistan presents a misleading interpretation of the agreement of 1974, it needs to be emphasized that, as part of the agreement, the government of Bangladesh had decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency.”Bangladesh saw Pakistan’s interference in its internal affairs just after the execution of two top war criminals-Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojhaheed.Pakistan has so far interfered in Bangladesh’s internal affairs at least for five times since November 2013 through various ways centering the trial of war criminals.
