THE liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 was one of the most defining episodes of the twentieth century. It was not merely a struggle for independence from Pakistan, but also a fight for dignity, justice, and recognition of the people鈥檚 right to self-determination. Yet, more than five decades later, the shadow of 1971 still looms large, not only in Bangladesh鈥檚 collective memory but also in the unresolved questions of accountability for genocide and crimes against humanity. Recent remarks by Pakistan鈥檚 deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, have reopened this painful chapter, compelling Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the wider international community to confront truths long brushed aside.
听
Ishaq Dar鈥檚 comment
IN DIPLOMACY, words carry weight. Ishaq Dar鈥檚 recent statement on Bangladesh and 1971 鈥� couched in the language of reconciliation and future cooperation 鈥� sparked sharp reactions because of what it omitted. He sidestepped the central issue: the genocide carried out by the Pakistani military during the nine months of the liberation war. For Bangladeshis, this was no innocent oversight. It looked like yet another deliberate attempt to dilute history, evade responsibility, and push the demand for justice into obscurity.
This is not unprecedented. Successive governments in Islamabad have expressed 鈥榬egret鈥� or 鈥榮orrow鈥� over the events of 1971 but have never explicitly acknowledged the scale of the atrocities, nor offered a formal apology for what many international scholars describe as one of the most systematic genocides of the modern era. Dar鈥檚 comment therefore carries not only political weight but also deep moral and historical implications. It reopens old wounds and reinforces the perception that Pakistan continues to deny or trivialise the enormity of what took place.
听
Unresolved issue of genocide recognition
THE genocide of 1971 is often referred to as one of the forgotten genocides of the last century. Independent estimates suggest that between 300,000 and three million people were killed during the nine months of war. Millions more were displaced, women were subjected to widespread sexual violence, and targeted killings of intellectuals, professionals, and minority communities underscored the systematic nature of the campaign.
Despite overwhelming evidence 鈥� eyewitness accounts, journalistic documentation, and the findings of international commissions 鈥� global recognition of the atrocities as genocide remains limited. The United Nations, for instance, has never officially declared it a genocide, even though many member states and organisations privately acknowledge it as such. For Bangladesh, this lack of recognition is a bitter reminder of justice denied and a failure by the international community to uphold principles of human rights and accountability.
The frustration deepens with Pakistan鈥檚 refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue or accountability processes. The 1974 tripartite agreement between Bangladesh, Pakistan and India鈥攊ntended to normalise relations 鈥� left the question of war crimes prosecutions largely unresolved. While Bangladesh pursued its own trials in later years, Pakistan never prosecuted those within its military establishment who orchestrated the atrocities. This persistent evasion has left a gaping wound in bilateral relations and a lingering sense of injustice.
听
Elusive accountability
SEVERAL factors explain why justice for 1971 has remained out of reach. First is Pakistan鈥檚 political unwillingness. Acknowledging the genocide would tarnish the image of the military and risk destabilising the internal political order, given the military鈥檚 dominant role in governance and national identity. Successive governments have therefore avoided confronting this history.
Second, geopolitical interests have often outweighed moral imperatives. During the Cold War, neither the United States nor China, both strategic allies of Pakistan, pressed for accountability. Even India, which supported Bangladesh鈥檚 liberation struggle, eventually prioritised normalising relations with Islamabad to maintain regional stability. The genocide issue was quietly sidelined in the interests of diplomacy.
Third, the international justice system itself is limited. Unlike Rwanda or the Balkans, no international tribunal was established for Bangladesh after 1971. The International Criminal Court cannot apply its jurisdiction retroactively, leaving no practical international legal forum to address these crimes.
听
Dar鈥檚 remark in context
ISHAQ Dar鈥檚 comment, however measured, underscores how these unresolved issues continue to fester. For Bangladesh, it is a reminder to intensify efforts for international recognition of the genocide. For Pakistan, it is a missed opportunity to show moral courage, a gesture that could have healed historic wounds and paved the way for more meaningful relations with Bangladesh.
The timing is telling. Bangladesh today is no longer a fragile, war-ravaged nation. It is a growing economy, a visible voice in global forums, and a country that has shown remarkable resilience in the face of challenges from natural disasters to refugee crises. Failure to acknowledge its painful past is not only an insult to its people but also a diplomatic miscalculation that undermines goodwill in a relationship that could otherwise be constructive.
Human dimension of unresolved justice
BEYOND politics and diplomacy, the human cost of 1971 must not be forgotten. Survivors, many of whom endured unspeakable suffering, still live with the trauma. For them, the absence of recognition and accountability is not abstract geopolitics but a deeply personal injustice.
Women who were subjected to sexual violence, families who lost loved ones, and communities devastated by massacres deserve acknowledgement and closure. Without it, the wounds of 1971 will pass to future generations, perpetuating bitterness and mistrust between the two countries.
Global experience shows that confronting past atrocities is essential for reconciliation. Germany鈥檚 unequivocal acceptance of responsibility for the Holocaust, coupled with reparations, set a standard for moral accountability. South Africa鈥檚 Truth and Reconciliation Commission, despite its flaws, provided space for dialogue and acknowledgment of suffering. Rwanda鈥檚 Gacaca courts brought communities into the justice process to address the immense backlog of genocide cases.
Pakistan, by contrast, has yet to take even the first step. A formal apology and honest education of its own citizens about 1971 could begin to shift the narrative. Denial and silence only deepen mistrust; acknowledgement can open the path to healing.
听
What next?
THE path forward is difficult but clear. First, Pakistan should be encouraged, through diplomatic pressure and civil society advocacy, to issue a formal apology. Such a step would be symbolic yet powerful.
Second, Bangladesh must intensify its efforts to secure international recognition of the genocide. Resolutions at the United Nations, lobbying UNESCO to include 1971 in genocide education, and building alliances with nations that have faced similar historical injustices are viable strategies.
Third, education matters. School curricula in both countries must tell the truth of 1971. For Pakistan especially, confronting history could break the cycle of denial and build the basis for constructive bilateral engagement.
Fourth, regional platforms such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation could help foster dialogue on historical accountability, however sensitive. Such measures can build confidence gradually.
Finally, survivors鈥� voices must be at the centre. Oral history projects, memorials, and intergenerational dialogues can preserve their experiences and ensure that justice efforts are rooted in human reality rather than reduced to political rhetoric.
听
Confronting past to shape future
DAR鈥橲 comment may have been meant as a gesture of goodwill, but in the context of Bangladesh, Pakistan relations, it is a stark reminder of unfinished business. The genocide of 1971 remains unresolved, continuing to haunt both nations. For Bangladesh, the pursuit of recognition and accountability is not only about honouring the past but also about defending the principles of justice on which its independence rests. For Pakistan, reconciliation requires confronting uncomfortable truths and taking responsibility.
The steps ahead 鈥� formal apologies, global recognition, educational reforms, and survivor-centred justice 鈥� can ensure that history is neither denied nor forgotten.
听
Musharraf Tansen is a development analyst and former country representative of the Malala Fund.
