Can Bangladesh-Pakistan Warming Be A Threat To South Asia?

The geopolitical landscape of South Asia is currently abuzz with discussions on the renewed warmth in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. In India--and consequently, much of the world--the perception of this relationship is deeply shaped by historical events, particularly those of March 1971, when the Pakistan Army launched genocidal attacks on intellectuals at Dhaka University and others who championed the cause of Bangladeshi independence. The images of December 1971, culminating in Pakistan's surrender and the triumphant return of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Dhaka in January 1972, further reinforce this perspective.

Old Assumptions Die Hard

Given these historical narratives, a long-standing assumption has taken root in the Indian psyche that after Pakistan's division into two nations and its decisive military defeat--marked by the surrender of 93,000 prisoners of war--it no longer posed a significant military threat to India. Another widely held belief is that Bangladesh, owing its birth as a nation to India's intervention and sacrifices in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, would remain perpetually grateful and maintain strong ties with India. While Indo-Bangladesh relations have remained largely positive over the decades, certain factors--such as the assassination of Sheikh Mujib in 1975, the sheltering of separatist leaders from India's Northeast in Dhaka, and the persistent issue of illegal migration--have occasionally strained perceptions. Nevertheless, the idea of Bangladesh realigning with Pakistan after 54 years remains inconceivable to many. Read Full Article