New Delhi, August 23 – India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that any relationship can remain effective only if it passes the test of “mutual interests,” remarks that come amid the current strains in Bangladesh-India relations.
Jaishankar made the comments on Saturday at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi, where he discussed India’s ties with Bangladesh and other regional issues, including Pakistan.
Asked about Dhaka’s demand for the return of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Jaishankar declined to comment directly on the issue.
“I can tell you that for any relationship to be effective, it has to pass the test of mutual interests. The relationship must also be beneficial for us,” he said.
Speaking about India’s relations with its neighbours, Jaishankar said New Delhi does not expect its neighbours to act solely in India’s interests.
“I do not expect my neighbours to work only to protect my interests. Just as I expect them to understand and respect my interests, there has to be a reasonable balance from my side in understanding and respecting their interests,” he said.
According to Jaishankar, bilateral relationships progress when the two sides are able to establish common ground and reach an understanding.
“At the heart of any deep bilateral relationship are mutual interests,” he said.
His remarks come amid uncertainty over a possible visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Informal discussions between the two sides are reportedly continuing to explore the possibility of such a visit in the coming weeks.
The comments are likely to draw attention in Dhaka as Bangladesh and India seek to manage differences while maintaining cooperation on issues of mutual importance.
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