THE participation of Major General Iftikhar Hassan Shah, Commandant of the Pakis-tan Military Academy, in the passing-out parade held recently at the Bangladesh Military Academy was not merely attendance at a military ceremony. Rather, it was a significant indication of the changing diplomatic environment in South Asia. Such initiatives highlight the fact that states do not remain trapped in the bitterness of the past forever; instead, they choose new paths by keeping their national interests, regional stability and future opportunities in view.

His presence is being regarded as a positive development toward growing trust, de-fense cooperation and stronger future relations between the two brotherly Muslim countries. The ceremony was also remarkable because, besides Pakistan, senior mili-tary officials from several other friendly countries attended, demonstrating that........

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