Pakistan on Monday rejected the Bangladeshi government's assertion as baseless and unfounded of its "complicity in committing crimes or war atrocities". "The Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Director General (SA & SAARC) and was informed that the government of Pakistan rejected the baseless and unfounded assertions of the Bangladeshi government conveyed vide its Note of 23 November 2015," Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said in a statement.
Pakistan also rejected insinuation of "complicity in committing crimes or war atrocities". Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bangladeshi government had summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner in Dhaka on November 22, 2015 and was handed over a note verbale. "The note stated that by openly taking the side of those convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide, Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity in the crimes committed during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971. It further stated that the unsolicitous comments were nothing less than brazen interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which was unacceptable," according to a statement issued by the Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Ministry.
However, Qazi Khalilullah said it was regrettable that attempts had been made by the government of Bangladesh to malign Pakistan, "despite our ardent desire to develop brotherly relations with Bangladesh." "Pakistan believes that the people of both countries not only want to maintain but also further strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood. However, sadly, the government of Bangladesh does not seem to respect these sentiments," he added.
The 1974 tripartite agreement was the bedrock of relations between the two countries, he said. As regards the Bangladeshi government's contention that Pakistan presents a misleading interpretation of the agreement of 1974, he said it needed to be emphasised that as part of the agreement, the government of Bangladesh had "decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency." He said that Pakistan reiterated its desire for further enhancing relations with Bangladesh, because "we believe that the hearts of the people of Pakistan beat in unison with the people of Bangladesh."
"It is important for the two countries not to forget the role played by their people in the struggle for the establishment of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent. It is, therefore, imperative to move forward in the spirit of goodwill, friendship and harmony for the collective good of the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh," he emphasised.