Pakistan on Friday said it was surprised that its deputy high commissioner had been ordered to leave Bangladesh, saying the decision was "unjustified" and not in keeping with friendly relations.
Dhaka earlier declared Pakistani diplomat Irfan-ur Raja persona non-grata following nationwide protests against controversial remarks he made almost three weeks ago about Bangladesh's 1971 independence war.
"This decision ... is not keeping with the spirit of friendly relations between the two countries," a foreign office spokesman said here.
"The decision of the Bangladesh government that the deputy high commissioner should leave today is therefore surprising and unjustified."
He said that Islamabad had already informed Dhaka that "in view of the unfortunate controversy," Raja had been transferred from Dhaka and was "preparing to leave Bangladesh in the next few days."
The diplomat reportedly told a seminar in Bangladesh that atrocities committed during the war were the work of "miscreants" in the local ruling party and not the Pakistani military as is widely believed.
Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, blames troops from then West Pakistan for several massacres of civilians during the war -- ISLAMABAD (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
