Pakistan PM with Bangladesh chief adviser
Bangladesh’s defence relations with China and Pakistan have raised concerns in India.
Bangladesh’s growing defence relations with China and Pakistan have raised concerns in India. The increasing military collaboration, particularly after Muhammad Yunus’s interim government was formed, poses a challenge to India’s security interests. This is especially significant given Bangladesh's strategic location near India's Siliguri Corridor in the northeast, as well as its proximity to Bhutan and the sensitive Doklam area.
Bangladesh’s military cooperation with China has been steadily increasing over the past few years. China has been supplying advanced military equipment, naval vessels, and providing military training, enhancing Bangladesh’s defence capabilities. Some reports also indicate that Bangladesh has been importing substantial quantities of ammunition from Pakistan, including rounds for tanks and explosives. Additionally, the participation of Bangladesh’s naval forces in joint military exercises with Pakistan signals a deepening of defence ties, which could reshape the regional security landscape.
The Yunus government appears to be titling toward China and Pakistan, in stark contrast to the more India-aligned foreign policy stance of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Yunus, alongside the growing influence of the Bangladesh Army, has been more open to engaging with Pakistan on military matters and has facilitated closer cooperation with China, which has invested in critical infrastructure and provided significant defence support to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s geographical position, sharing a border with India’s northeastern states, has always been of strategic importance to India. This region, especially the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the "Chicken's Neck," is crucial for maintaining India’s access to its northeastern states. The proximity of Bangladesh to the Chicken’s Neck means any instability or realignment in Dhaka could directly affect India’s ability to access and defend its northeastern states, especially in the face of potential Chinese expansionism.
Any shift in Bangladesh’s alignment towards China and Pakistan could create pressure on India, potentially enabling China to exert more influence in the region and access critical areas near the Chicken’s Neck and Bhutan's Doklam. Doklam Plateau is in Bhutan, near the Siliguri Corridor, which connects Bangladesh to India. China has a dispute with Bhutan over Doklam,
The growing Bangladesh-China-Pakistan military axis poses a serious challenge to India’s security in the region. As Bangladesh reportedly increases military cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in joint training and ammunition supplies, there is the likelihood of a more formalised military alliance emerging. This could lead to an increase in joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and closer military ties, all of which directly challenge India’s security interests, particularly in the northeastern states.
