India seeks ‘neighborliness’ in South Asia as Bangladesh tensions test regional diplomacy |
India’s call for renewed “neighborliness” in South Asia has taken on added urgency as diplomatic frictions with Bangladesh unfold against a backdrop of political violence, contested elections, and shifting regional alignments. Speaking on January 2, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that India’s economic growth and regional stability are inseparable, arguing that prosperity in New Delhi will inevitably spill over to its neighbors. His remarks, however, come at a time when relations with Dhaka are under strain, raising questions about how India’s neighborhood-first rhetoric translates into practice amid crisis.
S Jaishankar’s comments were made as Bangladesh prepares for a pivotal national election scheduled for February 12, an event already overshadowed by unrest, political exclusions, and unresolved grievances stemming from the 2024 uprising that ended the long rule of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. While India has publicly wished Bangladesh well ahead of the vote, the broader diplomatic environment suggests a relationship navigating deep uncertainty.
“If India grows, all our neighbors will grow with us. They will have many more opportunities,” S Jaishankar said, framing India’s development as a regional public good rather than a zero-sum pursuit. He added that this message was conveyed directly to Bangladeshi leaders during his recent visit to Dhaka, expressing hope that “as things settle down, this sense of neighborliness in this region will grow.”
S Jaishankar’s trip to Dhaka earlier this week carried both symbolic and political weight. He traveled to Bangladesh to pay homage to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away on December 30, a gesture widely........