1 week ago
Jaishankar Says Mutual Interest Key to India-Bangladesh Ties
India’s foreign minister said relationships between neighbouring countries work best when both sides’ interests are respected.
He was speaking about India’s relationship with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has asked India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
India has invited Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit New Delhi, but the timing is still uncertain.
The visit could help improve relations between the two countries.
Those relations worsened after Hasina’s government collapsed two years ago.
Jaishankar also said Pakistan uses terrorism in a systematic way against India.
He said Indian public opinion affects how the government responds to Pakistan.
S Jaishankar said India-Bangladesh relations must satisfy the test of mutual interest to work effectively.
He declined to answer directly on Dhaka’s demand that India extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit and a BRICS summit outreach session in New Delhi.
Rahman’s expected visit remains uncertain amid back-channel discussions and strained relations following the collapse of Hasina’s government.
Jaishankar called Pakistan unique for allegedly using terrorism systematically and sustainably against a neighbouring country.
- Who
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
- What
- Jaishankar discussed mutual interest in India-Bangladesh relations, Bangladesh’s extradition request for Hasina, Rahman’s possible India visit, and Pakistan’s alleged systematic use of terrorism.
- Where
- The remarks were made at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum; the potential visit would take place in New Delhi.
- When
- Saturday; the article also refers to developments following Hasina’s August 5 virtual media interaction and an expected visit in the next couple of weeks.
- Why
- Jaishankar said mutuality of interests is necessary for relationships to work and said Pakistan’s alleged conduct affects Indian public opinion.
Bangladesh’s Position
India’s Position
Sheikh Hasina’s extradition
Bangladesh’s Position
Dhaka has demanded that India extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and reiterated the request after her virtual media interaction.
India’s Position
Jaishankar declined to respond directly to the extradition question, while India said it neither played a role in nor endorsed Hasina’s comments.
Conditions for improved ties
Bangladesh’s Position
Bangladesh linked Hasina’s virtual interaction and its concerns about the event to the state of bilateral relations, and has sought action from India.
India’s Position
Jaishankar said relations work when both countries recognize and respect each other’s interests, describing mutuality as the basis for engagement.
Key facts
- Speaker
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
- India-Bangladesh principle
- Jaishankar said bilateral relations must meet the test of mutual interest.
- Extradition request
- Bangladesh has demanded that India extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
- Possible Bangladesh visit
- India invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit and a BRICS summit outreach session.
- Visit status
- The timing of Rahman’s expected New Delhi visit remains uncertain, with back-channel talks reportedly continuing.
- Relations backdrop
- India-Bangladesh ties deteriorated after the collapse of Hasina’s government two years ago.
- Pakistan characterization
- Jaishankar described Pakistan as uniquely systematic and sustained in its alleged use of terrorism against a neighbour.
Quotes
S. Jaishankar
India’s External Affairs Minister
“It is unique because in this day and age, there is no other country which uses terrorism so systematically and in such a sustained manner to attack and pressurise another neighbour, and that has an impact on public opinion in this country”
telegraphindia.com
“I am not expecting neighbours to only do what is in my interest. There has to be a reasonable degree of my recognising and respecting what is in their interest, just as I expect them also to do so”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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