Bangladesh Unrest: High alert in India after recent upheaval in Bangladesh. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5 and fled to Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, India. She is being said to proceed to London directly from Delhi, but no official confirmation has come in about her further movement. Meanwhile, India is on high alert, closely monitoring the situation in the neighboring country. The immediate question that springs to mind is: does India have unstable neighbors? Well, India’s immediate neighborhood is geopolitically complex and challenging. This paper elaborates on the current situation in India’s neighboring countries and the consequences for Indian security and diplomacy.
Turbulence in Pakistan and Bangladesh
More sensitive are India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan has its own plethora of problems to deal with—political instability and terrorism, to name a few. As regards Bangladesh, things have so far only turned more worrisome. In the aftermath of the recent coup, the army has taken over, and there are fears of an upsurge of events relating to terror groups in that country. And with the groups like Jamaat-e-Islami present, which have had a very mixed relationship with India, the fear of greater mischief from Pakistan is never too far away.
Growing Clout of China
Of more concern to India is China’s growing influence in the region. China has recently entered into substantial investments in both Bangladesh and Pakistan. Post-coup of Bangladesh, it is quite likely that China will further enhance its involvement, making the strategic predicament of India even worse. A real worry is that Bangladesh will enhance the strength for China, combined with its already robust associate in Pakistan, creating a situation where two neighbors both cause New Delhi issues of security and regional dominance.
Refugee Crisis and Security Threats
Security issues in Bangladesh are also fueling a growing refugee crisis. Infiltration into India has long been a problem, and the latest developments will serve only to exacerbate this crisis. Intake of refugees that could result and the tendency of terrorists to take advantage of the situation to infiltrate across the border are causes of concern. The security apparatus in India is on full alert so that these threats are met satisfactorily.
Strategic Responses of India
Political instability is yet another factor against the geopolitical landscape of India. The existence of the communist regime in runner land Nepal gives another dimension to uncertainty. Taliban power in Afghanistan is another challenging issue. Maldives has a strategic location in the Indian Ocean, giving rise to geopolitical difficulties.
Yet, notwithstanding all this, India is managing regional security and its diplomacy in a very hands-on way: The Indian government is acting vigorously to chalk out probable threats and ensuring stability. It includes strengthening border security, multi-track dialogues, and building partnerships with other key regional players.
In short, India’s geopolitics is turning out to be more complex every day, as most of the neighboring countries are being torn down by internal political strife. How adeptly India manages these challenges is sure to be one of the central points for maintaining regional stability and protecting its own national interest. The strategic prescriptions that would result from this unfolding situation would in turn go a long way in deciding the future of this region.