Author: Pranay Sharma
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: November 18, 2002
India's tough line on Bangladesh
may have been prompted by the pressure put by the US and other western
nations on the Khaleda Zia regime in Dhaka over the rise of religious fundamentalists
and the presence of al Qaida activists in the country.
The issue of camps of northeastern
militants in Bangladesh has been taken up by Delhi with successive governments
in Dhaka. But such discussions used to take place behind closed doors.
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani's recent remarks that ISI and al Qaida
activities have been growing in Bangladesh since the Bangladesh National
Party (BNP) came to power a year ago marks a departure from the practice.
It has also put fresh strain on the sensitive Delhi-Dhaka ties.
South Block officials, however,
are not apologetic. They feel it is about time India made its concerns
public. But they also pointed out that Advani's remarks came at a time
when many in the West have focussed on the rise of fundamentalist forces
in Bangladesh.
Nearly 50 per cent of Bangladesh's
development budget comes from the western nations. Over the past few months,
these countries have made their concerns known to Dhaka through the various
non-government organisations active in the country.
The fact that some western countries
have questioned whether India was against global terrorism or only cross-border
terrorism emanating from Pakistan may have also led to the toughening of
Delhi's stand.
For some years now, the rise of
fundamentalists in Bangladesh has been worrying India. To add to this worry,
the Jamaat-e-Islami has now joined the BNP coalition. A section of the
western media has also reported the presence of al Qaida in the country.
The Bangladeshi Prime Minister has
not helped matters either. She called in the army last month to maintain
law and order, inadvertently admitting that the situation in Dhaka was
worsening.
These are some of the main issues
that the Indian leadership will discuss with Awami League leader Sheikh
Hasina when she arrives on Saturday on a five-day visit. It is being described
as a private visit - the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister is scheduled
to address a seminar on South Asian cooperation and visit Moinuddin Chisti's
dargah at Ajmer. But a meeting with foreign minister Yashwant Sinha is
being chalked out. Chances are that she will get to meet a few more senior
Indian leaders during her stay in Delhi.
Foreign ministry officials argued
that India wanted to have good neighbourly ties with Bangladesh, but made
it clear that this was not possible till Dhaka took serious steps to address
India's security concerns.
India's main disappointment stems
from the fact that Bangladesh is not even willing to act against militants
arrested there.
Dhaka has released several of them
instead of handing them over to India, though Delhi had repeatedly sought
their repatriation.
