NEW DELHI, August 23 – India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that relations between neighbouring countries cannot be one-sided and must be based on mutual interests, as uncertainty continues over Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s long-awaited visit to India.
Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi, Jaishankar responded to questions from journalists on India’s relations with Bangladesh and Pakistan. His remarks came amid diplomatic uncertainty over Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit, while both sides are reportedly continuing back-channel discussions on the possibility of arranging the trip in the coming weeks.
Asked about Dhaka’s formal demand for the extradition of ousted former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Jaishankar declined to comment directly. However, he stressed that any relationship must be beneficial to both sides.
“I can tell you that for any relationship to work, it has to pass the test of mutual interest. It has to work for us,” Jaishankar said.
He added that relations with neighbours could never be one-sided, saying that while India cannot expect its neighbours to act solely in its interests, New Delhi must also understand and respect their interests.
“When two countries arrive at that understanding, that is when the relationship moves smoothly,” he said, stressing that mutual interests form the foundation of a stable bilateral relationship.
Earlier this month, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that New Delhi had formally invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi, alongside a proposed bilateral visit.
Tarique Rahman’s potential visit is being viewed as an important opportunity to rebuild India-Bangladesh relations, which have faced significant strain since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government two years ago.
However, tensions resurfaced after Sheikh Hasina addressed a virtual press conference from New Delhi on August 5. India subsequently distanced itself from the event, stating that New Delhi had no role in organising it and did not endorse her remarks.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry reacted strongly, saying Dhaka was “upset” that the event had been allowed despite India being informed beforehand of concerns over its possible negative impact on bilateral relations.
Against this backdrop, Jaishankar’s emphasis on mutual interests has added a new dimension to the ongoing diplomatic uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s proposed engagement with India.
NEW DELHI | AUGUST 23, 2026
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