Given that the Awami League (AL) was the main political force that led the liberation struggle of East Pakistan — now Bangladesh — from West Pakistan in 1971, it’s no surprise that relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have been strained for decades, particularly when the AL was in power in Bangladesh. However, with the fall of the AL regime on August 5 last year, and the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government taking charge in Bangladesh, Bangladesh-Pakistan relations are warming. Even so, Pakistan has yet to officially apologize for the 1971 genocide, which has left lingering resentment among many in Bangladesh.

In an interview with The Diplomat’s Bangladesh correspondent Saqlain Rizve, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof examined the evolving Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. On the question of Pakistan apologizing to Bangladesh for the horrific bloodshed of 1971, Maroof said that Pakistan is looking to move beyond the past. “We aim for a fresh start,” he said.

How are you finding the new environment in Bangladesh, given your experience with both the Awami League regime and the current one?

The first noticeable change is that I’ve become busier than before. In the context of the new Bangladesh, I see a significant difference: while we were engaging previously, it wasn’t as frequent or intense as it is now. Nowadays, it feels like we have a meeting every other day, we’re reaching out and actively engaging with the government. In both the short and long term, I believe this increased interaction is a positive sign for the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Do you feel there was any negligence from the Bangladesh government toward the Pakistan High Commission before August 5?

I wouldn’t describe it as negligence, as different governments have their own policies. We were less involved in their approach, which seemed to prioritize limited engagement with the High Commission of Pakistan in general. However, we maintained frequent and substantive interactions in international forums, such as the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, where we supported each other as needed.

We were never completely out of touch; wherever our interests aligned, we engaged. The key difference now is that more and more of our interests are converging.

Recently, cultural exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh, like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s packed Qawwali performance and frequent Qawwali concerts in educational institutions, have gained popularity. What are your thoughts?

Culture transcends boundaries; it cannot be stopped or restricted. People naturally enjoy and embrace elements of each other’s cultures, choosing what........

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