India deeply respects Sheikh Hasina’s sentiments on Pakistan

New Delhi, Dec 18: India appeared to endorse Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent comments that Pakistan cannot be forgiven for the atrocities it unleashed during the 1971 liberation war.

Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs Smita Pant said at a media briefing that India deeply respects and understands the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Hasina.

"There is no denying that state-sponsored oppression against Bangladesh's just war of liberation led to the death of 3 million people. More than 2,00,000 women were raped and tortured. We deeply respect and understand the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Pant said at the media briefing when asked about the comments by the Bangladesh PM.

The joint secretary in MEA's Bangladesh and Myanmar division was briefing the media about the outcome of

Thursday's virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms Hasina.

She made the comment when Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Ahmed Siddiqui called on her, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

On Wednesday, India celebrated "Vijay Diwas" that marks the surrender of around 93,000 Pakistani troops before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the "Mukti Bahini" on December 16, 1971, that led to the birth of Bangladesh. Bangladesh celebrates December 16 as ''Bijoy Dibosh''.

"It is a matter of pride for us to celebrate the historic victory of Bangladesh over the anti-liberation forces. Today, when Bangladesh is celebrating 49 years of independence, I pay homage to the armed forces personnel of both the countries who laid down their lives," PM Modi said at the virtual summit.

In her remarks, Ms Hasina talked about India's role in the liberation of Bangladesh and particularly highlighted how Indian Army's Major Ashok Tara rescued her family including her mother and sister from Pakistanl forces on December 17, 1971.