ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel in New Delhi has warned that India faces its “greatest strategic challenge since 1971” from developments in neighboring Bangladesh, pointing to the growing influence of Pakistan and China in Dhaka’s political and security landscape, according to Indian media.
The report, based on the 9th report of India’s parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, says Bangladesh’s evolving politics, weakening institutional structures, and resurgence of Islamist forces are reshaping the country’s foreign alignment. It identifies the expanding footprints of China and Pakistan as core concerns for India’s regional interests.
The panel described the situation as a deeper, long-term strategic test with implications for India’s national security and its policy in South Asia. It said the combination of internal shifts in Bangladesh and external influence could dilute India’s traditional role in Dhaka and “risk losing strategic space … not to war, but to irrelevance.”
According to the report, youth-led nationalist sentiment and “renewed Islamist activity” in Bangladesh, coupled with stronger ties with China and Pakistan, are among the factors causing concern for Indian policymakers.
Indian authorities acknowledged to the committee that they are monitoring developments in Bangladesh “on a priority basis” and have continued diplomatic engagement with Dhaka’s interim government amid the ongoing transition.
The committee urged New Delhi to bolster cultural, economic, and political outreach to Bangladesh to counterbalance the influence of rival powers and maintain regional stability. It also recommended enhanced engagement through platforms such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. However, it noted obstacles to renewed cooperation unless broader security concerns are addressed.
The report’s release comes amid debates over Bangladesh’s geopolitical orientation, with some Indian commentators warning of shifting public sentiment in Dhaka and increased strategic cooperation with Islamabad and Beijing.
.jpg)
.jpg)
