Assures Foreign Adviser: No security threat for India over ties with Pakistan
Staff Reporter :
Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain has assured that India’s security will not be jeopardised as Dhaka strengthens its diplomatic ties with Islamabad.
Speaking to WION’s Sidhant Sibal in Muscat, Touhid Hossain emphasised that Bangladesh views Pakistan as ‘just another country’ and is working to ‘normalise relations on par with other nations.’
“Pakistan was singled out due to the visa system. We look at Pakistan just like any other country. India’s security will not be jeopardised over Dhaka’s ties with Islamabad,” he said.
He dismissed concerns and described the recent discourse as ‘hue and cry’ over the normalisation efforts.
The diplomatic engagement with Pakistan comes as Bangladesh’s interim government, spearheaded by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, takes steps to diversify its foreign relations.
Under Yunus’s leadership, Dhaka has seen increased interactions with Islamabad, which had been minimal for decades following the 1971 Liberation War. On Sunday, Foreign Adviser held a bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. The meeting covered a broad spectrum of issues, including regional security, border management, and the situation of minorities in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh and India need a mutually beneficial, good relationship. We are working on that,” Hossain said, describing the talks as productive.
He reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to maintaining stable and friendly relations with its closest neighbour, India, while fostering diplomatic ties with other nations.
The discussion also touched upon Bangladesh’s engagement with the United States, particularly regarding relations with the Trump administration, and ongoing efforts to maintain peace and cooperation along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Bangladesh’s recent diplomatic outreach signals a pragmatic shift in its foreign policy, focusing on balancing relationships across South Asia without jeopardizing the security interests of its key allies, including India.
With the fall of the Awami League government in a massive upsurge in July Movement, the diplomatic relation with Pakistan has be focusing on more engagement on multiple arenas.
Direct shipping has already started and this initiative has eased the process of importing goods from Pakistan. Besides, both governments are working on restarting direct flight and it is expected to begin soon.