Synopsis
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of Bangladesh not normalizing terrorism during his discussion with Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain in Muscat. The meeting raised concerns about bilateral relations and regional cooperation amidst ongoing challenges facing minorities in Bangladesh.Key Takeaways
- EAM Jaishankar's warning against terrorism normalization.
- Focus on bilateral relations and BIMSTEC cooperation.
- SAARC Standing Committee meeting highlighted by Bangladesh.
- Concerns over minority safety in Bangladesh raised by India.
- Upcoming BIMSTEC Summit scheduled in Bangkok.
New Delhi, Feb 21 (NationPress) The External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar articulated during his recent discussion with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain in Muscat that it is crucial for Bangladesh to not normalize terrorism, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.
The EAM conducted several discussions with foreign counterparts from neighboring nations, including Bangladesh, at the Indian Ocean Conference held in Muscat on February 16.
Jaishankar indicated that his dialogue with the Foreign Affairs Advisor of the Interim Government in Dhaka primarily revolved around bilateral relations and BIMSTEC. The Bangladeshi representatives pointed out the significance of convening the SAARC Standing Committee meeting and urged the Indian government to contemplate this issue.
“Regarding whether SAARC was addressed or not... Yes, the Bangladeshi side brought up the matter during the EAM's meeting with the Foreign Advisor in Muscat. It was recognized that all parties in South Asia are aware of which nation and its actions impede SAARC's progress. The EAM emphasized the importance of Bangladesh not normalizing terrorism,” stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a media briefing in New Delhi.
EAM Jaishankar and Hossain last convened on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, marking the first significant interaction between India and the interim government of Bangladesh following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
Reports from Bangladeshi media indicated that during their brief meeting, which lasted under thirty minutes, EAM Jaishankar and Hossain stressed the need to tackle the challenges that have emerged in the current state of bilateral relations and discussed the potential for a meeting between Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok later this year.
The 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit is scheduled for April 2-4, later this year, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangladesh is set to assume the chairmanship of BIMSTEC at the summit.
Despite India's ongoing efforts to promote normalization of ties between the two nations, the current administration in Dhaka has faced substantial backlash for making unfounded allegations and targeting minorities, particularly the Hindu community in Bangladesh, since the significant political shift following Hasina's Awami League government in the previous year.
In December, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka to express New Delhi's concerns, particularly regarding the safety and welfare of minorities in Bangladesh, to the interim government's top leadership.
