As the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken a downturn in the past few years, the ascension of Bangladesh’s Mohammed Yunus-led government has led to increased interference of Dhaka in Pakistan. Their relationship has further cemented amid the worsening relations with India. Beyond that, the union of China further makes this partnership a deadly combination for India. Amid the progressing relationship between the new partners, Pakistan seeks to form an all-new nexus against India.
As per a report by Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar have stated that the trilateral initiative that has been initiated between Bangladesh, China and his country could expand to other regional countries and beyond. Dar’s statement comes at a time when the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has become inactive due to India-Pakistan tensions. Pakistan seeks to form new unions that exclude India.
Other Neighbouring Countries Will Agree
The three countries have already held trilateral talks that focused on regional stability, economic development and improving people’s lives. Pakistan may seem to take this further now. The trilateral talks focused on regional stability, economic development and improving people’s lives. Pakistan now plans to take it further. However, the big question is whether most South Asian countries will agree to a new regional grouping without India.
Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan envisions a South Asia where division will be replaced by cohesion and cooperation, where economies will grow without any disruptions and issues are resolved peacefully in accordance with international legitimacy, and peace is maintained with dignity and respect. Dar has accused India of fueling tensions in the region.
Pakistan’s Effort to Unite New Allies Against India
Akhtar, Director of the Centre for Security at the University of Lahore, told Al Jazeera that this reflects Pakistan’s intention to diversify regional cooperation mechanisms. This is necessary because decades of tensions between India and Pakistan have hampered SAARC.
Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, says that the silent demise of SAARC, coupled with frozen relations between India and Pakistan, led to a void for another South Asian forum. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s deteriorating relations with India and improving relations with Pakistan have paved the way for trilateral cooperation with China.
Pakistan’s success in the pursuit of gaining cooperation of new allies will depend upon the functional value at a time when traditional architectures are stagnant. Second, whether participation leads to increased attention and an aggressive stance from India. How successful the new coalitions are will soon be revealed in the future.
