By Kamal Mustafa
The upheaval following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh has reestablished old quarrels and raised serious concerns regarding India’s belligerent regional policies. It is here to remind us Pakistan has no role to play in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. The tale of external interference, most pointedly Pakistani, is a smokescreen out of which emerges India’s very own hubris.
A Regional Backlash Against Indian Hegemony
India has always had a sense of mastery for its neighbors. This has alienated not just Bangladesh but the broader region. Consider the broader regional dynamics: Nepal’s Prime Minister, fresh after taking office, chose to deepen ties with China—a telling signal. Sri Lanka maintains a cautious distance, while the Maldives, once firmly in India’s corner, increasingly views New Delhi’s influence with scepticism.
Bangladesh’s current turmoil is emblematic of a deeper discontent. The alleged US role in fostering regime change is one aspect, but it is India’s failure to nurture genuine partnerships with its neighbours that has allowed external actors to exploit regional fault lines. India’s support for Sheikh Hasina, despite allegations of corruption and election rigging, may have stabilised its influence in Dhaka temporarily, but it came at the cost of alienating a significant section of Bangladesh’s population.
Modi’s Extremist Policies: A Turning Point
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s policies have veered towards a narrow, nationalist agenda that has exacerbated regional tensions. This ideological rigidity is not only isolating India internationally but also making it a less desirable partner in South Asia. The narrative of secularism and prosperity that once underpinned Sheikh Hasina’s rule has been overshadowed by Modi’s divisive policies, which have amplified anti-India sentiments.
India’s insistence on projecting itself as a regional overlord has been met with growing resistance. Whether in Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh, nations are clearly pushing back against what they perceive as India’s overreach. The optics of Sheikh Hasina’s fall are a stark reminder that India’s influence, built on coercion rather than cooperation, is inherently unstable.
The Bangladesh Crisis: A Lesson in Sovereignty
Pakistan’s stance on Bangladesh’s crisis is a refreshing contrast. Islamabad respects the will of the Bangladeshi people and supports enhanced people-to-people contact. This is not just a diplomatic platitude but a necessary framework for fostering peace and understanding in South Asia. Bangladesh’s internal political shifts, however chaotic, are their own to resolve, free from external interference.
The Ghost of 1971: A Timely Reminder for India
The invocation of 1971, while historically significant, serves as a cautionary tale. India’s military intervention in East Pakistan can not be justified by any means, but subsequent policies toward Bangladesh were rather characterized by condescension than genuine partnership. History has a way of repeating itself, and India should learn from its own actions. Its hegemonic posturing is pushing neighbors into the arms of other powers-most notably China.
A Call for Introspection
India’s regional strategy is at a crossroads. To reclaim its stature as a regional leader, New Delhi must abandon its hubristic policies and embrace a model of cooperation and mutual respect. The Bangladesh crisis has become a perception – of India’s waning credibility in its own neighbourhood.
Modi government must wake up to the hard truth: South Asia is no longer willing to accept India’s ascendancy. Only by shedding its hegemonic tendencies can India hope to rebuild trust and foster genuine regional harmony. If it fails to do so, the “ghost of East Pakistan” will not just haunt Bangladesh—it will be a spectre of India’s own making.
