New Delhi
14 May 2007
India and the United States may be making attempts to cement their
bilateral relationship but New Delhi is not entirely convinced whether Washington's
interests coincide with that of India's in Iran, Pakistan and now, Bangladesh.
A well-placed source privy to the India-Bangladesh relationship said that the "US role" in
Bangladesh was "very predominant" and wondered whether India and the US can do
business in an atmosphere devoid of any significant convergence of ideas. Can India
and the US interests converge in Bangladesh when, for instance, Washington feels the
Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh is a moderate, democratic party and is, therefore, good?
the source wondered. Observing that there was "little oversight" on the money sent from
"West Asia" to certain radical groups in Bangladesh, the source said, "The situation (in
Bangladesh today) is very blurred as to what is going to happen."
Another source said that a five-member United States delegation comprising military
veterans and a Congressman returned to Washignton last month after spending some
time in Bangladesh. It is understood to have held a series of high-level meetings with
government, civil and military officials, and businessmen. In an April 4 letter to US
President George Bush, excerpts of which have been published in the Bangladeshi
media, the delegation asked him to elevate Bangladesh to the status of high priority
strategic partner in America's foreign and national security policies so that it becomes a
democratic and pro-Western nation. The letter went on to state: [The] US could organise
three-way track-two meetings including Bangladeshi, Indian, and American [people] to
discuss security or other issues of concern."
According to Teresita Schaffer of the US-based Center for Strategic and International
Studies, "Everything that was happening in and from the US Government suggested a
strong disposition to go along with whatever processes were put in place as long as they
led to elections. Now, you can argue about whether that was the correct policy, but I think
that is the way policy is being carried out." She was responding to a question about the
perception in Dhaka that the US was behind the 'coup' in Bangladesh, at an interaction
with Mr Farooq Sobhan, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute and retired
diplomat, hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington last
week.
For his part, Mr Sobhan said that India-Bangladesh relations were of critical importance
as far as Bangladesh was concerned. "We are not, certainly, out of the woods. In
Bangladesh, it would be a rash person who could say what's going to happen six
months down the road." He admitted these were "unchartered waters" but maintained
that the army would not like to take on added responsibilities. "All I can assure you is,
and this is with due apologies to General Musharraf lest this is misconstrued, but
General Moeen (U Ahmed) is no General Musharraf". The Bangladesh army chief is
likely to visit India soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment