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Bridging the divide

Sayed G.B. Bokhari
I had visited the land of the Golden Fibre twice before. Once in March 1971, when it was known as East Pakistan, and again in 2005, to an independent state, Bangladesh. This visit to Dhaka is the hat-trick.
In 1971, I was a major serving in Pakistan army's 16 Division, and the visit was melancholic as a very tense and hostile environment was prevailing then. In 2005, as members of an "Old Boys’ delegation from Pakistan, we were accorded a red carpet welcome by our hosts, the Sargodhians Old Boys' Association (SOBA), Dhaka Chapter.
The then Royal Pakistan Air Force planned to establish a school in Sargodha, Pakistan, to prepare students who would feed the nascent air force or provide leadership in any walk of national life. For the establishment and administration of the school, and for imparting state-of-the-art education and grooming of the students the services of a British firm, Air Training Inc., were requisitioned.
The school, named Royal Pakistan Air Force
Public School, took off in Sargodha in March 1953 with one hundred students, including a sizeable number from the Eastern wing. The British firm finished its contract in 1958, but left an institution whose students have excelled in the armed forces, civil service, education, science, and business in Pakistan. Bangladesh, and the international community.
The former students are known as Sargodhians. The golden jubilee of the establishment of the school was celebrated in 2003, and was followed by a commemoration in Dhaka in 2005. Both the occasions attracted jubilant Sargodhians from all over the world. The gathering of Sargodhians in Dhaka is a corollary to exchange of visits, particularly between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Though Sargodhians arc playing a significant role in forging a friendly relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh, this goodwill should be strengthened by peoplc-to-pcople contacts. We cannot turn the clock back on 1971. We should look to the future and not stay mired in the complexities of the past. The first step should be the removal of restrictions on visas.
The lure of better employment continues to draw streams of Bangladeshis who adopt illegal means of travel. These people remain stranded in Pakistan since none can go back because they do not possess legal documents. Increase in travel between the two countries will boost economy as the services industry will have to cater for the increased number of visitors. Both Pakistan International Airline and Bangladesh Biman will have a roaring business if they give discounts on tickets.
There has been a substantial increase in trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh over the past decade, from $16.9.6 million in 2000-2001 to $331.4 million in 2006-2007. Nonetheless, it can be jacked up to $2 billion. Pakistan can export its raw cotton, cotton yam, finished and unfinished textile products, urea fertiliser, and cement. Bangladesh can export raw jute, jute products, tea, and fabrics.
Before 1971, the entire requirement of tea consumers in West Pakistan was met from the tea gardens from this region. Increased volume of export of tea from Bangladesh to Pakistan will forge stronger financial ties between the two countries, over a cup of tea.
The two countries can intensify bilateral cooperation in the area of defence. Pakistan can make up the defence requirements of Bangladesh by assisting in the overhauling of Bangladesh air force aircraft, and selling communication equipment Pakistan manufactures JF-17 Thunder aircraft, and AJ-Khalid and Al Zarrar tanks, which can be inducted in the
Bangladesh armed forces. Through a joint venture the T-59 tanks of Bangladesh army can be upgraded.
Ties can be further cemented by holding joint training exercises, military training courses, joint ventures in defence production, and purchase of defence equipment. Instructors and student officers at the Staff College and other military training institutions can be exchanged on mutual basis.
During his recent official visit to Pakistan, the chief of the Bangladesh army ahd a fellow Sargodhian, General Moeen U. Ahmad, met his counterpart General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majid, and Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, and called on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Sayed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
In these parleys, General Moeen expressed interest in purchasing military equipment from Pakistan and in pursuing joint ventures. They discussed strategic issues to develop common understanding, and expressed adcsire to inten -sify bilateral cooperation in the area of defence.
Ipso facto, special relations exist between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which are character ised by religious affinity and commonality of views. Let us cash in on this special status and go ahead with plans that benefit equally the massesofthe two brotherly countries.
Sayed G.B. Bokhari is a free lance journalist. news analyst, and columnist. E-mail' sismaelshah@hotmail.com
***Ipso facto, special relations exist between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which are characterised by religious affinity and commonality of views. Let us cash in on this special status and go ahead with plans that benefit equally the masses of the two brotherly countries.****