ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office and several security analysts have strongly rejected Indian media reports of Islamabad’s alleged involvement in the recent student protests in Bangladesh through its High Commission in Dhaka.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, while talking to Strathia.com, a policy, technology and intelligence related platform, dismissed the Indian media report by stating that “Pakistan has a consistent policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries.”
Senior defence analyst Brigadier (Retd) Waqar Hassan Khan while talking to WE News English said that these student protests in Bangladesh were Indigenous as young students were against the job quota system for 1971 War veterans. He was of the view that there is another ongoing movement in Bangladesh named the “India Out Movement” which has frustrated India because the Bangladeshi youth wanted to reduce Indian interference in their internal affairs.
Brigadier Waqar was of the view that India, in order to cover up its embarrassment over growing unpopularity in Bangladesh is leveling baseless and senseless allegations against Pakistan.
Brigadier Waqar further said that Pakistan and Bangladesh enjoy excellent relations with Bangladesh and Islamabad cannot even imagine destabilizing a brotherly country in South Asia.
The 1971 War veteran and security expert Major (Retired) Ikram Sehgal while talking to WE News English termed the propaganda by Indian media against Pakistan as a classic example of hybrid warfare.
Mr Sehgal, who is considered an authority on South Asian security history, said the anti-Pakistan narrative in Bangladesh originates from India through its proxies in Bangladesh.
Mr Ikram Sehgal further said the young Bangladeshis do not buy the anti-Pakistan narrative promoted by Indian proxies in their country.
“Young students were protesting against a 30% quota for jobs for the children of 1971 War veterans. If there were 30,000 Mukti Bahni activists in 1971, then how did their number rise to 300,000 after 1971 and touched 1 million in later years”, Mr Sehgal questioned.
He further stated that in the Bangladeshi armed forces, the young officers up to the rank of Major and Lieutenant colonel are not under Indian influence, therefore they have different thinking.
However, the top military Bangladeshi command is deeply influenced by India. This is the fact, he said in the recent curfew across Bangladesh, none of the young military officers shot at protestors and the firing was done by the police.
Mr Sehgal further said that in the 1971 War, there were only three and a half divisions of Pakistan Army troops deployed in East Pakistan. Now, the Bangladesh Army has 10 divisions, out of which five divisions are deployed in an area close to the India-Bangladesh border. This makes one wonder that who is the real enemy of Bangladesh.
READ ALSO: Clashes Erupt in Bangladesh As Protesters Demand PM Hasina’s Resignation
Senior security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali while commenting on the Indian allegations said “This is an attempt by Indian media to twist the current situation in Bangladesh to spoil improving Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, in contrast to Pakistan’s sincere desire that Bangladesh remains stable and all its citizens and foreign residents including Pakistanis studying there remain safe”.
