India asserts claim to longest coastline in Bay of Bengal

NN Online:

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus – during his recent visit to China – has discussed India’s northeastern “Seven Sisters,” describing the region as landlocked and emphasising Bangladesh’s role as the guardian of its access to the sea.

His comments have sparked a significant controversy in India and have triggered a strong reaction, particularly from Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Jaishankar responded by firmly rejecting Dr Yunus’ remarks, saying that India holds the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, stretching approximately 6,500 kilometers, reports Indian news outlet NDTV on Thursday.

He also underscored India’s strategic role in BIMSTEC, emphasising the importance of India’s northeastern region as a “connectivity hub” with an expansive network of infrastructure, including roads, railways, waterways, grids, and pipelines.

Jaishankar’s remarks also sought to affirm India’s dominance in the region, noting that the northeastern states are pivotal to connecting India with Southeast Asia and ASEAN through BIMSTEC. His statement reflected India’s growing geopolitical and economic influence in the Bay of Bengal region.

Dr Yunus’ comments, however, continue to stir debate, with many Indian leaders, including politicians and former officials, voicing strong opinions on the matter. The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of regional geopolitics, particularly regarding access to sea routes and the strategic role of Bangladesh in the region’s maritime connectivity.

‘Co-op is an integrated outlook, not one subject to cherry picking’

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said their North-Eastern region, in particular, is emerging as a connectivity hub for the BIMSTEC, with a myriad network of roads, railways, waterways, grids and pipelines.

“We, after all, have the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, of almost 6,500km. India shares borders not only with five BIMSTEC members, connects most of them, but also provides much of the interface between the Indian Sub-continent and ASEAN,” he said, adding that India is aware of its special responsibility in regard to BIMSTEC.

Speaking at the 20th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting, Jaishankar said they believe that cooperation is an integrated outlook, not one subject to cherry picking.

The EAM said the completion of the “trilateral highway” will connect India’s North East all the way to the Pacific Ocean, a veritable game-changer.

He said they are conscious that their cooperation and facilitation are an essential pre-requisite for the smooth flow of goods, services and people in this larger geography.

Keeping this geo-strategic factor in mind, Jaishankar said they have devoted increasing energies and attention to the strengthening of BIMSTEC in the last decade.

He said this regional organisation represents the trifecta of three of our crucial initiatives: the Act East policy, the Neighbourhood First approach and the MAHA-SAGAR outlook.

“It is also on the pathway to our Indo-Pacific commitment. In order to promote BIMSTEC, what India is doing is to draw the best from all of them and then synergise that with our collective efforts,” said the Indian minister, adding that their bilateral relationships with individual BIMSTEC members are also strong and steadily growing is a further source of strength.

“At the end of the day, what we seek to create is a strong structural framework with a substantial relevance to our people,” he said, adding that by having a real commitment towards enhancing the growth of BIMSTEC.

By finalising a BIMSTEC Charter in 2024 and holding four Summits in the last decade, Jaishankar said, they are sending a strong message to that effect.

“Our job is to prepare for a successful Summit tomorrow where our leaders will reinforce the pillars of cooperation, witness the signing of significant agreements and declare the establishment of Centres of Excellence,” said the EAM.

“I am confident that we will not only accomplish the ground work properly but set the stage for the emergence of the Bay of Bengal as a vibrant and energetic region,” Jaishankar said, noting that the nations around and proximate to the Bay of Bengal have both common interests and shared concerns.