Mint Explainer: India’s diplomatic, trade challenges in a stormy neighbourhood
Mint explores the potential impact of regional instability on not just India’s trade but also internal security. Let’s begin with the political crisis and civil unrest in Bangladesh, with which India shares a 4,096 km border, its longest with any of its neighbours. Although Bangladesh has announced an interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, the riots haven’t abated.
If the situation continues, India may face the challenge of illegal migration from Bangladesh. As a developing nation and the most advanced among its neighbours, India might be able to create resources for such migrants. But it will be a significant challenge to identify antisocial elements who may enter in large numbers under the guise of migrants.
Also read | Look east: New threats from the Bangladesh coup In its report on ‘India’s Neighbourhood First Policy’, the Union government’s Standing Committee on External Affairs has stressed the need for improved security infrastructure at India’s borders to address the challenges of illegal migration and smuggling of weapons and drugs into the country. The committee submitted its report in Parliament in July 2023. India’s Neighbourhood First Policy is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing relations with its immediate neighbours, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as Afghanistan and Maldives.
The policy doesn’t include China. This policy was formally articulated shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office two months earlier for a third successive term. It underscores India’s commitment to being a proactive regional partner, striving for a stable, prosperous, and interconnected South Asia.
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