The dramatic political developments in Bangladesh, which led to the expulsion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year, made many surprises – including near Dhaka’s increasing with the enemy of Pakistan for one time.

Last month, after decades of troubled relations, the two countries began trading directly for the first time, as Dhaka imported 50,000 tons of rice from Pakistan. Direct flights and military communications were also revived, visa procedures have been simplified, and there are reports on cooperation on security issues.

Countries – separated from the ground block in India – have deep and painful historical ties. The hostility between them dates back to 1971, when Bangladesh – then known as East Pakistan – launched a struggle to gain independence from Islamabad. India supported the Bangladeshi rebels during the nine -month war, which led to the formation of Bangladesh.

While the scars of that period were deep, Dhaka had friendly relations with Islamabad between 2001 and 2006, when the National Party of Bennadish (BNP) and the Islamic Group ruled the country.

This changed during Hasina’s 15 -year base since 2009 – when it was strongly supported by Delhi and maintained a distance from Pakistan. But after she fled to India in the wake of mass protests against her government, the relations seem to be wandering.

“Over the course of the 15 -year -old, Pakistan Bangladesh’s relationship has been in a somewhat difficult path,” says Hammun Kabir, a former Bangladeshi diplomat, adding that the relationship now seems to return to “two ordinary neighbors.”

Developments are closely monitored, especially in India, which has a long history of hostile relations with Pakistan.

The relations between Dhaka and Delhi were lukewarm since the exit of Al -Hasina. India did not interact with Bangladesh’s demands to hand it over to confront crimes against humanity, money laundering and corruption. Hasina denies accusations against her.

Some experts believe that reviving relations between Dhaka and Islamabad is a strategic step.

“Pakistan and Bangladesh have a tactical relationship at the present time. They want together to represent a reaction against the dominance of India,” says Aisha Siddiq, a Pakistani academic who is an older colleague at the King’s College in London.

There were other developments regardless of the start of direct trade.

Mohamed Younis, the Pakistani Prime Minister, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaybaz Sharif, has met in multilateral forums several times in recent months.

Then there is a growing military relationship.

Bangladeshi military delegation made a rare visit to Pakistan in January and held talks with influential army commander General Ashm Monir. The Bangladeshi Navy also participated in a multinational marine exercise organized by Pakistan off the Karachi coast in February. .

Vienna Sekri, who was a Samia Commissioner in India in Bangladesh between 2003 and 2006, describes the increasing rapprochement between Dhaka and Islamabad as a moment of “Dija Fu”.

During its term in Dhaka, India has repeatedly said the issue of “Indian rebels are trained in Bangladesh with the support of ISI [Pakistan’s intelligence agency] And a section of the Bangladesh Army. “

“We have provided evidence of the Bangladeshi authorities,” she said.

The authorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh He denied these allegations at that time.

The long and pore boundaries between India and Bangladesh make it relatively easy for armed rebel groups from the northeastern states of India to cross from Bangladesh. However, after the Awami Association arrived in Hasina in 2009, she coordinated these groups and dismantled their bases.

Mrs. Sekri says that reviving military relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan is a “great security source for India.”

“It is not only the military relationship. The Pakistani Foundation also revitalizes relations with the Islamic parties, Bangladeshi, such as the Islamic Group, which supported Islamabad during the Bangladesh Independence War.”

The Journalism Office of the Union Administration of Indian media reports categorically rejected the senior ISI Zaka officials. It has also been described as reports that Pakistani activists were working to reopen a camp for an Indian rebel group in Bangladesh as “baseless.”

Pakistan’s army did not answer the BBC questions about India’s concerns about the future role of ISI in Bangladesh.

Analysts say that politicians in Bangladesh realize that, given close economic and linguistic relations, DHAKA cannot take a position to combat India.

Despite the concerns in Delhi, Bangladeshi diplomats argue that relations with Pakistan cannot be normalized unless issues related to the 1971 war were resolved.

During the war, hundreds of thousands of Bengalia were killed and tens of thousands of women were raped. The war ended with more than 90,000 Pakistani and civilian employees who surrendered to the joint leadership of the Indian and Bangladeshi forces in what is seen as a humiliating separation in Islamabad.

Bangladesh called for an official apology from Pakistan for the atrocities committed during the war, but Islamabad did not show any tendency to do so.

“Pakistan needs to possess the crimes that occurred during the independence war,” said Mr. Kabir, a former diplomat in Bangladeshi. “We also raised the issue of the Assets Department before 1971 between the two countries in several bilateral meetings with Pakistan.”

Even former Pakistani military officers such as Ikram Sehgal accept that “the main stumbling block in bilateral relations is the condition of the Paradise, whom Pakistanis should apologize for what happened in 1971.”

However, the retired Pakistani army insists that Bangladesh also address a matter Bengali attacks on Urdu amplifiers During the struggle for independence.

“I was a witness to the atrocities that occurred against the European speaking people [in East Pakistan]Mr. Seaghoual, who now lives in Karachi, said to the BBC.

While history casts a shadow over the relations between Dhaka and Islamabad, economists indicate that the two countries can first focus on improving bilateral trade, which currently reaches less than 700 million dollars (540 million pounds), most of which are in favor of Pakistan.

“More than 250 million people in Pakistan are a strong market for Bangladesh in the medium to long term,” said Sabreen Big, a co -professor of economics at Dilayer University.

Currently, there are restrictions that include high definitions on both sides and companies and exporters face visa and obstacles to travel. However, Ms. Big says, “Improving bilateral political and commercial relations will reduce these restrictions.”

Some of these issues may be discussed during the visit of Pakistani Foreign Minister Isaac Dar to Dhaka in April. By the end of the year, Bangladesh is expected to hold the general elections and a new government may have a different set of foreign policy priorities.

But whatever happens, the risks are high for Delhi, which feels strongly that Bangladesh is stable and friendly to preserving peace and stability in its northeastern states.