External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday stated with sub-regional integration turning into a shared precedence in South Asia, facilitating seamless motion of individuals and items between India and Bangladesh whereas countering the safety threats of the Border Security Force (BSF). will play an vital function in ,
The minister additionally stated that the BSF has performed an vital function within the liberation of Bangladesh and stays a serious stakeholder within the India-Bangladesh “maitri (friendship)”.
Addressing an occasion organized by the BSF to commemorate 50 years of the 1971 battle, Jaishankar additionally described how the BSF educated Mukti Bahini in guerrilla warfare and from the Battle of Sylhet to Longewala on the Eastern and Western Fronts. But did his heroic deeds.
Jaishankar identified that the 2 international locations share a rising commerce partnership and added, “Bangladesh is India’s largest buying and selling accomplice in South Asia and the fourth largest export vacation spot globally. India is the second largest buying and selling accomplice of Bangladesh. Despite Kovid-19, bilateral commerce has now reached 10 billion {dollars}.
He stated bettering border infrastructure, together with roads, land customs stations and built-in checkpoints, is essential to maintain this momentum. “With sub-regional integration in South Asia becoming a shared priority, the BSF will also have an important role to play in facilitating seamless movement while countering traditional and emerging security threats,” he stated.
Jaishankar stated that vital progress has been made between India and Bangladesh by way of opening up of recent and present railways, highway and waterways transport and several other efforts are underway to advertise multi-modal connectivity for seamless motion of individuals and items. .
“BSF is playing a vital role in India’s strong engagement with Bangladesh. Maintaining a peaceful border, preventing cross-border crimes and other illegal activities is vital for the stability and prosperity of the border areas and beyond,” he stated.
Stating that nobody will neglect the genocide marketing campaign launched by the Pakistani Army towards the folks of Bangladesh in March 1971, Jaishankar stated: “Operation Searchlight is certainly one of the horrific episodes of mass atrocities and brutal killings in latest historical past. When the folks of Bangladesh stood up towards it underneath the heroic management of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, there was spontaneous assist for it in India. Our political, army and diplomatic efforts in upholding the democratic rights of the folks of Bangladesh are actually effectively underneath method. acknowledged by.
Thursday’s occasion was additionally attended by Bangladesh War veteran Lt Col Qazi Sajjad Ali Zaheer, who was a part of the Pakistan Army on the time however fled India to affix the battle, recounting his experiences.
Calling the 1971 battle “the most glamorous victory in world history”, Zaheer stated, “The Indian Army coated a distance of 56,200 km from Pakistan in 13 days. They pressured 93,000 POWs to give up and suffered minimal casualties. On the opposite hand there was the military that dedicated rape, homicide, arson and genocide. When overseas armies enter a rustic, they commit rape and homicide. The Indian armed forces, numbering 3 lakh, didn’t commit a single homicide or rape. .
SK Mitra, a retired BSF DIG who fought within the battle, stated, “They (Pakistan Army) had ammunition which might final them for 3 months. But a power that rapes ladies is an immoral power. And a morally defeated power can by no means win a battle.”
Underlining that India and Bangladesh should proceed to hold ahead this legacy of friendship, Zaheer stated, “Meet the new generations (people of Bangladesh and India) with the spirit of 1971. History is a fascinating entertainer but a poor one. The teacher is there. If you tell history wrong, history will insult you.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
