Modi's Bangla pivot

Taking a cue from Obama's Asia pivot, Modi has launched his own brand of outreach to neighbours. Sri Lanka was his major diplomatic success in terms of nudging out China from his backyard. Nepal and Bangladesh naturally fall in the equation. But China's loss of Sri Lanka was compensated by Pakistan with the Karachi port thrown open to its maritime ambition in the Indian Ocean. Pakistan's deflated value to its all weather friend was thus appreciated ten fold. Not good news for India. India followed through and won over Nepali quake victims with unprecedented solidarity and help. Modi could not afford to keep his neighbours unclaimed for and send them in the arms of others in default. 

Prior to Modi's recent trip, China published a truncated Indian map in which Arunachal and Kashmir were not shown by his host. Beijing is also denying regular visas to visitors from these two states! Modi is aware that NEFA cannot be defended without the cooperation of Bangladesh. This is why the connectivity rhetoric is on full blast. A combination of factors had contributed to Modi's galloping full tilt to the long neglected LBA issue. Regarding the Teesta deal India needs more time to watch and wait on how Bangladesh reacts to China's possible counter pivoting and how we are able to play the China card. No nation will forego its interests.  

Yusuf Azad
Chief Evaluation Officer (Retd.)
Education Board Office, Rajshahi