Dhaka Favors Quiet Diplomacy amid Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict

In a cautious diplomatic stance amid the escalating conflict between two SAARC member states, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman emphasized that "war doesn't bring anything good" and confirmed that Dhaka is prioritizing quiet diplomacy over public condemnation.

Speaking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early Saturday upon his return from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Khalilur Rahman described the ongoing hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan as "an unfortunate matter." 

While the Foreign Minister was joined by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, he remained firm on Bangladesh’s current policy of non-public intervention, stating, "We are not saying anything in public but we are trying to make our friends understand that such war is not good for anyone."

This statement follows a dramatic spike in regional tensions after Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged cross-border strikes overnight, leading Pakistan’s defense minister to declare on Friday that the two nations are now in a state of "open war." 

The conflict intensified after Afghanistan launched retaliatory attacks late Thursday following Pakistani airstrikes on border areas, which Pakistan countered with strikes in Kabul and other provinces targeting military installations.

Despite the volatility, Dr. Khalilur Rahman engaged in high-level diplomacy on the sidelines of the extraordinary ministerial session of the OIC Executive Committee in Jeddah. 

He held bilateral talks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with representatives from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Gambia, and Palestine. 

According to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both Dr. Rahman and Senator Dar reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties and agreed to work closely to promote "peace, stability, and shared prosperity" in the region.

This diplomatic outreach aligns with the Foreign Minister’s recent meeting with SAARC Secretary General Md. Golam Sarwar on February 24, where he reiterated Bangladesh’s "abiding commitment to the principles enshrined in the SAARC Charter including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual benefit of the peoples of member states."

With Inputs from UNB