Former National security adviser M K Narayanan on Friday expressed concern over the political turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh and emphasised the need for strong India-Bangladesh ties. He also spoke about India’s relations with China and Pakistan, highlighting the “importance of peace and diplomatic solutions.”
Narayanan, 91, was speaking at an event on the topic ‘Global and Regional Geopolitics, Security, and Economics in a World of Uncertainty’, organised by the India Chambers of Commerce and Ceners-K in Kolkata.
Regarding Bangladesh, Narayanan said, “I don’t think anybody knows what’s happening in Bangladesh today. India and Bangladesh have to be friends…Good friends. I hope efforts will be made to improve the relationship and bring it back to the situation that existed previously.”
He said, “India is very strong today… Can provide what Bangladesh wants. There are internal problems in Bangladesh and I hope India can extend a helping hand. Bangladesh is an important part of our friendly neighbourhood. Neighbours have problems. India is a bigger country, so it needs to be magnanimous in dealing with issues.”
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“I don’t think India and Bangladesh can ever be unfriendly with each other, and we should not allow other countries to interfere. India and Bangladesh have a lot of commonalities in terms of language, history, etc.”
Narayanan termed the “Bangladesh situation following (its former PM) Sheikh Hasina’s exit” as a “major setback for India,” adding, “We must rectify this situation.”
On the subject of China, Narayanan said, “We need peace with China, not conflict. The North East has to be dealt with diplomatically.”
Source – Indianexpres
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