New Delhi: While Bangladesh and Pakistan held their Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting after a gap of 20 years as part of the thaw in diplomatic ties, there is little that Dhaka can gain from a country run by military generals with an economy that is on the brink of collapse.

On the contrary, the relationship is fraught with tremendous risk.

Ironically, the JEC meeting coincided with the visit to Dhaka of General Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s second-highest ranking officer after Field Marshal Asim Munir. The twin engagements signal renewed efforts by both sides to strengthen bilateral ties and the shadow of Pakistan’s military establishment over the ties.

However, the harsh reality is that Pakistan’s fragile economy, saddled with a trade deficit that has soared close to a record high

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