Nervous Khaleda backers call for seasoned Pak diplomats to counter India's growing influence

Dhaka, Jan 8 (ANI): The landslide victory of Sheik Hasina's Awami League has jolted the pro-Pakistan political forces in Bangladesh who want Islamabad to send some seasoned diplomats here to look after its interests in the wake of growing Indian influence in the country.

The rise of Indian influence could be measured from the fact that the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh was the first foreign diplomat to call on Sheikh Hasina Wajid after the election results were announced and met her for two hours.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to visit Dhaka next week to meet the new Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"If Pakistan wants to safeguard its interests in Bangladesh, then it needs to immediately send a seasoned diplomat as its High Commissioner. Diplomats like Riaz Khokhar, Dr Tanveer Ahmed Khan and Hamayun Khan have served Pakistan with distinction in the past as HC," observed one MP of Khalida Zia's Bangladesh National Party.

Background interviews revealed that as the Hasina Wajid-led Awami League prepares to start the trial of "war criminals" within the next six months, a seasoned Pakistani diplomat is required here who could deal with this very sensitive issue.

India would be the sole beneficiary of these trials as Pakistan would be at the receiving end. Many former generals of the Pakistan Army are included in the list of 210 'war criminals'.

Pakistan has shown no sign of urgency in countering the Indian influence and has not fully realised the impact of the sea change that has taken place in Bangladesh, The News said.

It would do Pakistan a world of good if Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi could find time to visit Dhaka immediately to open a new chapter in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.

The Indians, on the other hand, are taking full advantage of the situation, feeling satisfied that, after Afghanistan, now they have a friendly government in Dhaka. This new situation might greatly help India in promoting its regional agenda. (ANI)