Bangladesh relaxes visa policy for Pakistanis, India concerned
Last Updated on December 8, 2024 6:15 am
Bangladesh has lifted the requirement of security clearance for Pakistani citizens to obtain visas. This move is believed to indicate a new diplomatic and political approach by Bangladesh.
This was mentioned in a report by Indian media NDTV on Saturday (December 7).
It said that this security clearance was made necessary in 2019 in the wake of tensions in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations and security concerns. However, on December 2, 2024, the Security Services Division (SSD) of the Bangladesh Home Ministry announced the lifting of this condition.
Recently, Pakistan High Commissioner Syed Ahmed Maruf met BNP leader Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. After that, this policy was basically changed.
Warming of Bangladesh-Pakistan relations
This November, the Bangladesh government allowed direct cargo ships from Karachi to Chittagong, which is another example of warming relations between the two countries.
NDTV claims that BNP has historically maintained close ties with Pakistan. On the other hand, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League has always been known as a close ally of India.
India’s concerns about security
This change in Bangladesh’s visa policy has increased concerns about the security of northeastern India.
According to Indian security experts, this change could affect India-Bangladesh relations and bring an important turning point in Bangladesh’s geopolitical position.
Regarding this, Mubashar Hasan, Executive Director of the Sydney Policy and Analysis Center, said that by normalizing relations with India’s rival Pakistan, Bangladesh is now indicating that it no longer wants to view South Asian politics from an India-centric perspective. However, the question remains as to how effective this will be for Bangladesh in the long run.
India’s Neighborhood Policy and Regional Influence
Meanwhile, experts have mentioned that gaps in India’s neighborhood policy are becoming clear.
Although the Bangladesh government has repeatedly expressed its interest in maintaining friendly relations with India, there has been no significant response from India.
Experts believe that this situation indicates a major change in the geopolitics and security of South Asia.
Security Perspective
India fears that the activities of extremist groups in its northeastern region will increase as a result of Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. It is believed that the political changes in Bangladesh may further increase the security threat in this region.
These steps by Bangladesh, on the one hand, signal a reconsideration of diplomatic relations, but on the other hand, it is also believed that it may become a security challenge for India.