There has always been politics in the relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh marred by the history that it wears, but the recent past has seen a remarkable attempt at bridging loopholes and nourishing the culture of cooperation within the region.

This is as Bangladesh, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina Wajid, begins a new chapter of political life. The two neighbors’ rapprochement is the promise of a new friendship, and the promise is that the two nations will stand together to address some of the most significant regional and global challenges.

To comprehend the relevance of the new diplomatic alignment, one has to grasp the bitter past that has transpired between Bangladesh and Pakistan. The split occurred in 1971, when Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, went to war against West Pakistan and formed the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The war created deep wounds, especially on issues concerning war crimes, the independence of Bangladesh, and psychological trauma among citizens of both countries.

The two countries’ political leaders struggled with this trauma for decades. The independence war in Bangladesh was a touchy issue, and the fact that Pakistan could not manage its own history properly only aggravated the situation. Prime Minister of Bangladesh since 2009, Sheikh Hasina was also uncompromising on Pakistan in later years, posing a question on war crimes in the struggle for independence repeatedly and reminding everyone about the atrocities that took place in 1971 even in the diplomatic circle.

And with the passing, however, of Sheikh Hasina Wajid’s regime with........

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