The Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan has firmly rejected claims from India that accused Pakistan of playing a role in the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh, calling it a sign of India’s “disturbing obsession” with its neighbor.
The accusations from India surfaced following reports in Indian media suggesting that Pakistani intelligence agencies were involved in the recent collapse of Bangladesh’s government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The political crisis in Bangladesh began when the military took control after widespread student-led protests forced Hasina to flee the country. An interim government was later formed under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist.
In a statement during a weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed the Indian allegations, emphasizing that Pakistan had no involvement in Bangladesh’s internal matters. “These statements depict India’s disturbing obsession with Pakistan,” Baloch remarked. She criticized Indian political leaders and media for routinely blaming Pakistan for their internal and external policy failures.
Baloch further highlighted the positive relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which she said continue to grow stronger. “The government and people of Pakistan have expressed their support and solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, and we sincerely hope for a peaceful and swift return to normalcy,” she added.
The spokesperson also expressed confidence in the resilience and unity of the Bangladeshi people, suggesting that these qualities would help them navigate through the current crisis toward a peaceful future.
Background on Bangladesh Unrest
The political crisis in Bangladesh escalated after a student-led movement, initially protesting against job quotas in government positions, quickly evolved into a larger anti-Hasina campaign. The unrest peaked when hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Dhaka, forcing Prime Minister Hasina, who had been in power since 2009, to resign on Monday. Crowds later stormed and looted her residence.
The protests, which started as a demand for fairer job opportunities, intensified due to accusations of election rigging and human rights abuses against Hasina. In an attempt to suppress the growing unrest, she deployed security forces, leading to violent clashes that resulted in the deaths of at least 455 people, according to an AFP tally based on police, government officials, and hospital sources.
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