By: Isuru Parakrama
September 26, Colombo (LNW): India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has asserted that India does not seek to control the political decisions of its neighbouring countries, nor does it expect their internal dynamics to align with its own preferences.
Instead, India is confident that the region’s fundamental interdependence will ensure that its relationships with neighbours like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh remain constructive.
Speaking at a discussion in New York hosted by the Asia Society, Jaishankar addressed concerns raised following political changes in both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The recent electoral victory of Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Sri Lanka and political turmoil in Bangladesh have prompted questions regarding India’s regional influence and its approach to neighbours experiencing regime changes.
While some observers speculated that India’s role in the region may be diminishing, Jaishankar reiterated India’s stance of economic regionalism, which focuses on mutual benefit rather than political dominance.
“It is not our intention to impose political conditionality or to suggest that our neighbours’ political choices must align with our own interests,” he remarked.
Jaishankar also underlined that India’s engagement with Sri Lanka, particularly during its economic crisis, was driven by goodwill and concern for regional stability rather than political leverage.
Hr emphasised that while Colombo’s approach may shift, India remains open to collaboration. The minister highlighted India’s timely intervention in stabilising Sri Lanka’s economy when others hesitated, pointing out that this assistance was provided without political strings attached.
In contrast, Jaishankar acknowledged that Bangladesh’s political scenario presents a different set of concerns. Widespread protests and political upheaval against Sheikh Hasina’s government have introduced instability, with growing fears of radicalisation and religious intolerance.
India has traditionally supported Hasina’s Awami League, and her downfall has raised questions about India’s future relations with the new administration in Dhaka.
Jaishankar met Bangladesh’s interim foreign advisor, Touhid Hossain, as both countries navigate this changing landscape.
India remains particularly concerned about the security implications for its northeastern states, given the rise of Islamist factions in Bangladesh’s new government.
However, Jaishankar expressed optimism about the future, noting that despite shifts in leadership, the realities of interdependence between India and its neighbours would prevail.
He urged against a deterministic view of regional politics, assuring that India’s relationships with both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh would continue to be shaped by mutual benefit and shared regional interests.
Reflecting on India’s broader foreign policy approach, Jaishankar concluded, “We have seen ups and downs, but the fundamentals of cooperation and common goals always reassert themselves. Our region’s history shows that, even in moments of tension, the corrective mechanisms come into play, ensuring stability.”
