Bangladesh should be at the centre of India’s diplomacy
- Thread starter The Ronin
- Start date
Taimoor Khan
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 13,811
- Reaction score
- 4
- Country
- Location
"As China expands its influence on India’s neighbours and closes in on the country from all sides, security experts say Delhi must prioritise its relations with Bangladesh – the only country that has so far resisted giving in to Chinese pressure"
The Sanghes need to reflect on the red part. When the congress leaders are telling you that India sphere of influence is decreasing, they might be playing politics but its a fact.
India has been reduced to Bangladesh only.
The Sanghes need to reflect on the red part. When the congress leaders are telling you that India sphere of influence is decreasing, they might be playing politics but its a fact.
India has been reduced to Bangladesh only.
Ranjan Basu, Delhi-
As China expands its influence on India’s neighbours and closes in on the country from all sides, security experts say Delhi must prioritise its relations with Bangladesh – the only country that has so far resisted giving in to Chinese pressure
Given China’s aggressive and largely successful policy of expanding its sphere of influence among India’s neighbors, Bangladesh’s support for India stands in stark contrast to other countries in the region. Many Indian analysts think that Dhaka continues to maintain a delicate balance between Delhi and Beijing. In fact, it is widely held that Bangladesh tends to lean towards India on most issues because of the two countries’ proximity in geography and mindset, but is disappointed at not being treated the same way by Delhi.
The most glaring and recent example of this is the ongoing Rohingya crisis, which is nearing its sixth month.
These views were expressed during a discussion at the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi, on January 24.
Dr Jonathan DT Ward, one of the leading experts on China, was the keynote speaker at the event.
Ward made an interesting prediction that day: “The 1962 war between China and India was fought on the Himalayan border, mainly in Arunachal. But if there is any future war between these two countries, it will be centred on the sea.
“The China-India tension is gradually shifting towards the maritime domain, especially in the Indian Ocean Region,” he said.
That China wants to surround India on south by establishing seaports in different countries is nothing new. Geopolitical experts often call it the “String of Pearls” where the pearls stretch over the Strait of Malacca, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Pakistan, and even the Strait of Hormuz, all the way to Somalia.
Meanwhile, there has already been significant progress towards the establishment of a Chinese economic corridor passing through Pakistan. It will stretch all the way from China to the Gwadar port, situated on the Arabian Sea in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.
Another recent development is that China is likely to set up a military base in Jiwani, 85km west from the Gwadar port. In that case, this will be the second Chinese military establishment on foreign soil after Djibouti.
It is therefore apparent that Pakistan, in a way, allows China to use its land the way it wants to. It is almost the same when it comes to Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Myanmar. Bangladesh is the only exception to this trend.
Former Indian diplomat Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, also a former ambassador to China, said without hesitation: “The Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a cheque worth almost $26bn when he visited Bangladesh. Even then, it cannot be said that Dhaka has gone into China’s grip.”
He added: “Even after knowing that India cannot compete with China’s capacity for providing aid, the Sheikh Hasina led-government is still clearly leaning towards India.”
Dasgupta admitted that India failed to fulfill Bangladesh’s expectations regarding the Rohingya crisis. He said: “We [India] have probably put too much importance on Myanmar’s feelings. Maybe India should have accorded a bit more importance to the arguments of the country bearing the burden of thousands of refugees.”
Former Indian foreign secretary and former Indian ambassador to the US, Nirupoma Rao Menon, admitted that India does not have same economic prowess to spend money the way China spends, whether as aid or investment, on Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
“But money is not everything in diplomacy – there are other means as well, which is called ‘smart diplomacy’,” said Rao, “In my opinion, India has only one way of stopping China’s increasing influence on South Asia – that is by implementing smart diplomacy.”
In private conversations, many Indian diplomats have expressed that it is not evident India has indeed implemented ‘smart diplomacy’ on the Rohingya issue.
But if one looks into China’s activities inside different Saarc countries in the last few months, it should not be difficult to understand why India should put more emphasis on Bangladesh’s India-leaning foreign policies.
It is not an exaggeration to say that China has surrounded India on all sides. China has made strong inroads in neighbouring countries other than Bhutan and Bangladesh, and India needs to address this trend sooner or later.
Retired brigadier Gurmit Kanwaal of the Indian Army now occupies the post of a senior fellow in Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, a strategic think tank in Delhi. He categorically said: “India has to militarily reach out to countries like Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Nepal – the same way it helped the Afghan army.”
Kanwaal also stressed that India has no other way to fight China’s increasing dominion over the neighbouring countries.
“For some reason, a ‘security vacuum’ has been created in the Indo-Pacific zone. China is trying its best to take advantage of it, and India has no other option but to make a counter-strategy.”
Similar warnings have been issued by Tibet’s exiled Leader (Sikyong), Dr Lobsang Sangay, to India. No other country has borne the brunt of China’s aggressive policy like Tibet has, so it is very important to evaluate the advice of the Tibetan leadership.
In a telephone call from his exiled government’s capital, Dharmashala, Dr Sangay said: “I think India needs to start being careful. China is trying to surround India by creating a circle from Pakistan to Nepal-Bangladesh-Burma (Myanmar)-Sri Lanka, and has succeeded in this to some measure. India has to find a way to get out of this circle.”
The summary of the advice from key observers, diplomatic and political, is that India has to be more responsive, careful, and sympathetic towards its neighbours. And in the centre of all the diplomatic missions should lie Bangladesh – India’s trusted and tested ally.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/2018/02/12/bangladesh-centre-india-diplomacy/
India is the most important country for Bangladesh. Vice Versa is not true
It is harsh reality of geopolitics
There is no truth to the statement
Nilgiri
BANNED
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
- Messages
- 24,797
- Reaction score
- 81
- Country
- Location
Of course BD has importance just by its population size, and yes location adds to some degree too (but not so much imo given you are near fully surrounded by Dada and are early development frontier stage). To make location more important you need to reach triple digit export amount, integrate well with more of the region....basically three+ times more...then only its proof of economic hub taking root....only from that security hub organically can really evolve....and gather more interest from all world powers near and far. Right now its just perfunctory hedging/jockeying with what others see as your potential mostly without any real massive commitment. Latter needs you to chart and lay on the ground solid achievements...that is where I see the real issues for BD happening....but lets see.
Definitely you should do the best you can, and we will do the best we can
It will be win-win....esp seeing that @Bilal9 reaction already lol.BTW did @idune run off from this forum lol?
Shorisrip
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2016
- Messages
- 551
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
- Location
He hasn't been on in a couple weeks. I'm a bit sad, I really wanted to see his reaction to Khaleda's sentencing.
@idune please come back
Rumour has it that Idune is allegedly the aide of Khaleda who's been serving jail term with her. Khaleda was so impressed by his anti-BAL campaign online, that she made her prime secretary.
24 Hours
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 9, 2015
- Messages
- 1,957
- Reaction score
- 2
- Country
- Location
Taimoor Khan
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 13,811
- Reaction score
- 4
- Country
- Location
Bangladesh under Hasina is the only country which can make you feel good about yourself.
It is nice to be friends with all your neighbors
lonelyman
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2015
- Messages
- 3,737
- Reaction score
- -14
- Country
- Location
Ranjan Basu, Delhi-
As China expands its influence on India’s neighbours and closes in on the country from all sides, security experts say Delhi must prioritise its relations with Bangladesh – the only country that has so far resisted giving in to Chinese pressure
Given China’s aggressive and largely successful policy of expanding its sphere of influence among India’s neighbors, Bangladesh’s support for India stands in stark contrast to other countries in the region. Many Indian analysts think that Dhaka continues to maintain a delicate balance between Delhi and Beijing. In fact, it is widely held that Bangladesh tends to lean towards India on most issues because of the two countries’ proximity in geography and mindset, but is disappointed at not being treated the same way by Delhi.
The most glaring and recent example of this is the ongoing Rohingya crisis, which is nearing its sixth month.
These views were expressed during a discussion at the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi, on January 24.
Dr Jonathan DT Ward, one of the leading experts on China, was the keynote speaker at the event.
Ward made an interesting prediction that day: “The 1962 war between China and India was fought on the Himalayan border, mainly in Arunachal. But if there is any future war between these two countries, it will be centred on the sea.
“The China-India tension is gradually shifting towards the maritime domain, especially in the Indian Ocean Region,” he said.
That China wants to surround India on south by establishing seaports in different countries is nothing new. Geopolitical experts often call it the “String of Pearls” where the pearls stretch over the Strait of Malacca, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Pakistan, and even the Strait of Hormuz, all the way to Somalia.
Meanwhile, there has already been significant progress towards the establishment of a Chinese economic corridor passing through Pakistan. It will stretch all the way from China to the Gwadar port, situated on the Arabian Sea in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.
Another recent development is that China is likely to set up a military base in Jiwani, 85km west from the Gwadar port. In that case, this will be the second Chinese military establishment on foreign soil after Djibouti.
It is therefore apparent that Pakistan, in a way, allows China to use its land the way it wants to. It is almost the same when it comes to Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Myanmar. Bangladesh is the only exception to this trend.
Former Indian diplomat Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, also a former ambassador to China, said without hesitation: “The Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a cheque worth almost $26bn when he visited Bangladesh. Even then, it cannot be said that Dhaka has gone into China’s grip.”
He added: “Even after knowing that India cannot compete with China’s capacity for providing aid, the Sheikh Hasina led-government is still clearly leaning towards India.”
Dasgupta admitted that India failed to fulfill Bangladesh’s expectations regarding the Rohingya crisis. He said: “We [India] have probably put too much importance on Myanmar’s feelings. Maybe India should have accorded a bit more importance to the arguments of the country bearing the burden of thousands of refugees.”
Former Indian foreign secretary and former Indian ambassador to the US, Nirupoma Rao Menon, admitted that India does not have same economic prowess to spend money the way China spends, whether as aid or investment, on Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
“But money is not everything in diplomacy – there are other means as well, which is called ‘smart diplomacy’,” said Rao, “In my opinion, India has only one way of stopping China’s increasing influence on South Asia – that is by implementing smart diplomacy.”
In private conversations, many Indian diplomats have expressed that it is not evident India has indeed implemented ‘smart diplomacy’ on the Rohingya issue.
But if one looks into China’s activities inside different Saarc countries in the last few months, it should not be difficult to understand why India should put more emphasis on Bangladesh’s India-leaning foreign policies.
It is not an exaggeration to say that China has surrounded India on all sides. China has made strong inroads in neighbouring countries other than Bhutan and Bangladesh, and India needs to address this trend sooner or later.
Retired brigadier Gurmit Kanwaal of the Indian Army now occupies the post of a senior fellow in Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, a strategic think tank in Delhi. He categorically said: “India has to militarily reach out to countries like Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Nepal – the same way it helped the Afghan army.”
Kanwaal also stressed that India has no other way to fight China’s increasing dominion over the neighbouring countries.
“For some reason, a ‘security vacuum’ has been created in the Indo-Pacific zone. China is trying its best to take advantage of it, and India has no other option but to make a counter-strategy.”
Similar warnings have been issued by Tibet’s exiled Leader (Sikyong), Dr Lobsang Sangay, to India. No other country has borne the brunt of China’s aggressive policy like Tibet has, so it is very important to evaluate the advice of the Tibetan leadership.
In a telephone call from his exiled government’s capital, Dharmashala, Dr Sangay said: “I think India needs to start being careful. China is trying to surround India by creating a circle from Pakistan to Nepal-Bangladesh-Burma (Myanmar)-Sri Lanka, and has succeeded in this to some measure. India has to find a way to get out of this circle.”
The summary of the advice from key observers, diplomatic and political, is that India has to be more responsive, careful, and sympathetic towards its neighbours. And in the centre of all the diplomatic missions should lie Bangladesh – India’s trusted and tested ally.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/2018/02/12/bangladesh-centre-india-diplomacy/
India is very paranoid here. All these investment in connectivity is mainly for economical purposes. As China's own experiences show, build up infrastructure is key to development, we even took loans in the 80s from the hated enemy Japan for the infrastructure projects. Of course, when our South Asian brothers grow rich, their appetite for Chinese goods also grow, it's a win win situation like Japan and China were in the past.
Now India is basically blaming neighbors for wanting to have more economical development, a better relationship with China, this is total selfish.
What's the purpose to surround India? Frankly, India is 20% of our economic size, can't even make a decent rifle, totally under our radar. For geopolitical rivalries, we aim at USA.
Bilal9
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2014
- Messages
- 26,569
- Reaction score
- 9
- Country
- Location
Yes I know. Fraud on an international scale is the hallmark of Indian companies, especially Pharma companies, which you guys are really proud of. How do you defraud poor destitute Africans with fake drugs, a people who have nothing? I guess it takes a Bharti to do this sort of thing....Kenya has already banned Indian pharma exports....
http://www.business-standard.com/ar...-pharma-exports-to-africa-109011101058_1.html
More on topic, just give it up. You have worn out your welcome in Bangladesh. We know Indian dhokeybaaj, fraudsters and cheats.
Put the tail between your legs and go back to Delhi or Mumbai, we don't care.....
The link you posted is a bill against counterfeiting
http://www.business-standard.com/ar...-pharma-exports-to-africa-109011101058_1.html
You asked for examples of global Indian companies. I gave quite a few
Bilal9
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2014
- Messages
- 26,569
- Reaction score
- 9
- Country
- Location
Dada google it yourself. Indian companies are basically fraudsters. Fly by night philosophy is their business mantra. Enough said.
Sorry he is not taking potshots without being answered to
Nilgiri
BANNED
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
- Messages
- 24,797
- Reaction score
- 81
- Country
- Location
K have fun....hope you read all my post to club him further with as you see fit (I'll check back a bit later to see if you have meandered anywhere thats interesting/amusing to me).
BTW he will really start crying badly when BD loses its LDC preferential tariffs and they take a big hit on low value add RMG (that this guy literally said is AS "difficult" as automobile production, I kid you not). 90% export reliance on just one price-elastic industry ( being so poor) is not a good place to be...but it will be a long term lesson and unfortunately borne out on the regular folk among his lot who dont get to live in a cocoon and have this kind of behaviour, that at least some wiser souls call him out on:
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/the-...er-than-pakistans.536089/page-9#post-10141002
