Dhaka assesses viability of new Pakistan–China initiative

WEB DESK: Bangladesh could, in principle, join a regional alliance with Pakistan that does not include India, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said, describing the idea as strategically viable for Dhaka but unrealistic for some neighbouring states.

Speaking to reporters at the foreign ministry in Dhaka, Touhid said Bangladesh had the “strategic space” to consider such an arrangement, though “Nepal or Bhutan cannot pursue a bloc with Pakistan without India.” His comments followed Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent claim at the ‘Islamabad Conclave’ that a new trilateral initiative involving Bangladesh, China and Pakistan was emerging and could eventually widen.

Touhid stressed that he had only learned of Dar’s remarks through media reports and suggested it was too early to make a definitive assessment. “He has said something, and perhaps it may move forward at some stage,” he added.

Responding to questions on other foreign policy issues, the adviser said the process to lift US sanctions on Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was progressing, noting what he described as “substantial improvements” in the force’s conduct over the past decade and a half. He reiterated the government’s commitment to curbing human rights abuses, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Asked whether Bangladeshi political leaders risk facing sanctions following the events of August 5, Touhid rejected the idea, saying he had seen no allegations pointing in that direction.

On security cooperation with Washington, he confirmed that discussions on the long-pending General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) were still under way.

He also addressed concerns over high visa refusal rates for Bangladeshi applicants, attributing a significant portion of rejections to falsified documents submitted during the application process.