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India Should Be Wary of CIA Involvement in South Asia

06:28, 10 August 2024
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Muhammad Sharif
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The overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina-led government in Bangladesh could pave the way for the US to punish the former prime minister for refusing to provide military bases in the region, as well as increase its involvement in the country's domestic politics, influence India-Russia relations, and even counter China’s growing power.
Sputnik
The US has long been involved in South Asia and the Bangladesh crisis has only exacerbated this, a pundit told Sputnik India.
Washington initially sought to counter the USSR in the region but now looks to address China's rise to power, as well as being unhappy that India is not complying with its demands to cut ties with Russia, senior independent journalist and political analyst Deepak Tiwari explained to Sputnik India.
Military prowess is also on the US' mind, firstly pushing India to surrender some of its army bases, and, when this failed, turning to Bangladesh, equally without success.

"Last year, [Assistant US Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs] Donald Lu visited Bangladesh three times to convince [ousted Prime Minister] Sheikh Hasina to allow an air base [to be built]; she did not agree. Currently, the entire region is not only unstable but also precariously positioned, as religious riots in one nation could trigger protests in neighbouring countries," Tiwari stated.

Meanwhile, destabilising India is not far from Washington's attack plan either, as a strong uni-party government in Delhi that is resistant to blackmail is against its interests, according to the journalist.

Possible Regional Impact of Bangladesh Crisis

Following the unrest in Bangladesh, riots against Hindus have been reported, potentially sparking similar moves in India's Bengal and Assam regions. This scenario could send India back to the 1990s when it faced significant communal riots if they are not halted, Tiwari suggested.
Meanwhile, the revival of anti-India terrorist and insurgent groups, as well as attacks on minorities, remains a big concern for Delhi, which maintains hopes that the new Dhaka government will be able to rein in the elements engaging in violence, Sameer Patil, former Assistant Director at the National Security Council Secretariat in India's Prime Minister's Office, clarified during an interview with Sputnik India.

"In my view, the impact of the Bangladesh situation on regional security depends to a great degree on how the interim government handles the internal situation. So far, they have made every effort to contain the situation," the pundit argued.

The current crisis in Bangladesh likewise heightens the region's vulnerability to large-scale refugee movements and escalating social, ethnic, and religious tensions, Dr Aparaajita Pandey, a political analyst with Amity Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies, shared with Sputnik.

"The situation requires careful monitoring to anticipate potential spillovers of people, sentiment, and ideology into neighbouring nations. South Asia must prepare for rapid changes in the socio-political landscape of Bangladesh and their implications for the wider region," she asserted.

Pandey further said that in the long term, this instability may invite greater interference from global powers in Bangladesh. The nation's future appears uncertain and fragile, lacking a clear roadmap, which heightens its economic and political dependence on larger countries. Consequently, Bangladesh's relationships with its neighbors may shift according to its evolving alliances.
Therefore India needs to be cautious about the extending influence of the CIA in the region.
Sputnik Opinion
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