KARACHI, Dec 20: Speakers at a seminar on Pakistan-Bangladesh Relationship since 1971 stressed the need for improving bilateral ties, increasing people-to-people contact , allowing free movement of people and promoting trade links between the two countries.

They urged Islamabad to establish strong links with Dhaka instead of having a sentimental approach created by the bitter experiences of the past. They observed that people of both the countries were closer to each other than Indians. The seminar was organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) at its Vickey Zeitlin Media Library on Monday.

Delivering keynote address at the seminar, Arnold Zeitlin, the visiting professor at the universities of China and Hong Kong and the then Bureau Chief of APP who had covered the 1969-71 events that led to the creation of Bangladesh, said that Pakistani and Bangladeshi people had a shared history.

Instead of recalling the bitter experience of pre- and post-1971 war, the two countries should struggle for normalization of bilateral ties, he added. "Of course it will take some time, but there is a great deal of friendship for Pakistanis in Bangladesh," he said, adding that the Pakistanis visiting Bangladesh were accorded a warm welcome.

Both being Islamic countries and located in the same region, Pakistan and Bangladesh had common enemies and were facing identical problems, he pointed out. Most of the political parties in Bangladesh, including BNP, appeared closer to Pakistan than India, he said.

Ikram Sehgal, Editor of the Defence Journal and noted defence analyst, said that Pakistan-Bangladesh relations started normalizing during the tenure of presidents Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Mohammad Irshad.

"Even in the early 80s, Bangladeshi people started cheering and supporting Pakistani players against Indians, which showed their inclination towards Pakistan," he observed, adding that there was goodwill for Pakistanis in Bangladesh despite the 1971 experience.

According to him, even military ties between the two countries were improving as a majority of the Bangladesh army and air force officials were being trained in Pakistan.

Mr Sehgal suggested removal of visa and tariff restrictions for the peoples of both the countries by their respective governments, predicting that sooner or later, they would have to do so under pressure of their own people.

In response to a question, he said President Musharraf had done enough by offering regrets over the 1971 events before his visit to Bangladesh. A former federal minister for law and president of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Friendship Association, Barrister Shahida Jamil, said being Islamic countries and members of the forums like United Nations, OIC and Saarc, the two countries should move forward in building healthy relationship instead of looking back into the past.

Ghazi Salahuddin acted as moderator at the seminar whereas Secretary General of the PPF Owais Aslam Ali presented vote of thanks. The seminar was followed by a question-answer session. -PPI