Eastern discomfort

Bangladesh’s domestic politics within Bangladesh is once again threatening to cast a shadow on Indo-Bangladesh relations. The series of bomb explosions that shook Bangladesh last week has serious implications for India. They have once again heightened concern about Bangladesh’s stability. They have given grist to the mill of those who see Bangladesh as a source of terrorism. They may have also increased border tensions, as Friday’s exchange of fire between India’s Border Security Force and the Bangladesh Rifles seemed to indicate.

India’s response should be measured. Ideally, India needs a three-pronged strategy. It needs to be vigilant about infiltration from Bangladesh. Since infiltration from Bangladesh and terrorism are both potent themes in Indian politics, any untoward incidents at this stage will be a serious blow to the prospects of improving relations between the two countries. At the same time, India must continue with the process External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh began in his recent visit to Bangladesh. In areas of trade and economic relations, India should be as magnanimous as possible, in ways that allow the two economies to be closely interlinked. As with Pakistan, India should continue on the path of generating confidence building measures with Bangladesh. This interchange should go beyond a narrow conception of reciprocity. This is the only long term strategy for making relations between the two countries less antagonistic.

But the third element of the India’s strategy will be trickier to execute. Begum Khaleeda Zia’s party has long flirted with radical Islamic groups. These groups, first and foremost, represent a threat to the government and people of Bangladesh. It is in Bangladesh’s interests that its politicians show greater intolerance for intolerant groups. The long term prospects of better Indo-Bangladesh relations are substantially dependent upon a reform in Bangladesh’s domestic politics. India should use its international authority to ensure that Bangladesh’s politicians get the message that terrorism will not be tolerated. What is prudent for Bangladesh will also be good for the future of Indo-Bangladesh relations.