Security shapes India’s regional outlook

Pankaj Saran, who previously held senior positions in India’s Prime Minister’s Office, the National Security Council Secretariat and the Ministry of External Affairs, has said security continues to be a key component of India’s neighbourhood policy, while signalling New Delhi’s interest in opening a “new chapter” in relations with Bangladesh following the country’s recent elections.

Speaking during an interaction with a visiting Bangladeshi media delegation at the Sushma Swaraj Institute in New Delhi, Saran said India would closely monitor how Bangladesh’s new government shapes its relations with China, Pakistan and the United States, and how India positions itself within that changing geopolitical landscape.

“We have to see how the new government in Bangladesh will manage its relations with China, Pakistan and the United States, and where India will fit into this,” Saran said.

The discussion was attended by NatStrat Adviser Shantanu Mukharji, Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh. The Bangladeshi media delegation is visiting India from 3 to 9 May.

Saran said India’s regional approach seeks to balance security interests with broader efforts to maintain constructive engagement across South Asia, excluding Pakistan.

Referring to China’s expanding regional influence, he noted that Beijing shares borders with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, making China’s engagement with these countries strategically significant for India.

The former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh said South Asia continues to face a range of geopolitical and domestic challenges.

He cited ongoing instability in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar, while expressing cautious optimism over democratic progress in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

“Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and even the Maldives — we are seeing that genuine democracy has come to these four countries and new leaderships have taken over,” he said, adding that these countries are entering “a new journey” in their political development.

On India-Pakistan ties, Saran described the relationship as remaining in a prolonged diplomatic deadlock with little or no meaningful engagement.

He also said both India and Bangladesh continue to face similar concerns stemming from instability in Myanmar.

Commenting on Bangladesh-India relations, Saran referred to the exchange of congratulatory messages between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following the elections.

“It is remarkable that the day after the election, Prime Minister Modi sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and the next day Tarique also responded publicly,” he said.

According to Saran, the swift diplomatic exchange reflected India’s intention to build a constructive relationship with Bangladesh’s new leadership.

“This was very different from the atmosphere in the relationship under the Yunus administration,” he said, adding that New Delhi moved quickly to express its willingness to “open a new page” with Dhaka.

Saran also referred to the appointment of Dinesh Trivedi as India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, describing him as the first political appointee to the position since 1971.

“What it means, basically, is that the prime minister personally wants someone there who enjoys his full confidence,” Saran said, describing Trivedi as an experienced political figure capable of handling Bangladesh’s complex political environment.

Describing the current period as significant for bilateral relations, Saran said ties between the two neighbouring countries were gradually regaining momentum.

“But all I would say is, regardless of who is in power in Delhi or in Dhaka, this reality can never change.

You cannot defy our history, geography and culture,” he said, underscoring the depth and importance of Bangladesh-India relations.

Reflecting on past strains in bilateral ties, Saran recalled that relations deteriorated considerably between 2001 and 2006 over India’s concerns regarding the alleged use of Bangladeshi territory by insurgent groups operating in India’s northeast.

“The relationship almost broke down because of Indian concerns over the use of Bangladeshi territory for terrorist activities against India in the Northeast and Bangladesh’s denials,” he said.

According to Saran, the lack of sustained dialogue during that period negatively affected both countries and slowed progress on several bilateral initiatives.

“The result was that people suffered, everyone suffered, and our initiatives could not move forward,” he added.