After India started a fire in the region by attacking Pakistan, now it is scared of the smoke, as India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has warned of close ties between Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh.
General Anil Chauhan, while speaking at a think tank event, stated, “There is a possible convergence of interest we can talk about between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh that may have implications for India’s stability and security dynamics.”
His remarks followed a meeting on June 20 between senior officials from Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh, who vowed to enhance trilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, health, education, and maritime affairs.
The trilateral meeting between Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh bears resemblance to a significant trilateral meeting held in May between Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan.
After the five-day war between India and Pakistan, only Afghanistan and Israel showed some support to India’s narrative while all its allies remained neutral or sided with Pakistan.
However, soon after the ceasefire, China held a trilateral meeting involving Pakistan and Afghanistan as all countries vowed to enhance trilateral cooperation.
Additionally, the CDS General Chauhan’s remarks have come against the backdrop of worsening diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.
In 2024, a student-led mass protest movement metamorphosed into a revolution known as the July Revolution, leading to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic government.
Hasina, who had carried out mass killings of innocent civilians, has always enjoyed support in India.
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, she fled to India where she found refuge despite strong protests from Bangladeshis to deport her.
Gen Chauhan further stated, “IOR has allowed outside powers to leverage their influence through debt diplomacy, creating vulnerabilities for India. Similarly, frequent shifts in government in South Asia, with changing geopolitical equations and ideological views, pose another major challenge.”
Interestingly, he dismissed the recent remarks given by Indian Deputy Army Chief Gen Rahul Singh saying, “India was fighting on one front but with two or three adversaries.”
CDS Chauhan stated, “It is challenging to determine the extent of state support provided by China to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.”
