Priyanka Tiwari
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Speaking at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed comments made by Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who recently referred to India’s northeastern states as “landlocked” and suggested Bangladesh was the “only guardian of the ocean” in the Bay of Bengal region.
In response, Jaishankar emphasized that India holds the longest coastline—nearly 6,500 km—in the Bay of Bengal, refuting any notion that the Northeast lacks strategic or maritime relevance.
India’s Role in Regional Connectivity
Jaishankar underlined India’s pivotal role in connecting BIMSTEC countries, which include India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
“India shares borders with five BIMSTEC members and provides much of the interface between the Indian sub-continent and ASEAN,” he stated.
He also pointed to the North-Eastern region’s development as a major connectivity hub, supported by expanding infrastructure across roads, railways, waterways, grids, and pipelines.
Rejecting ‘Cherry-Picking’ in Cooperation
In a veiled reference to Yunus, Jaishankar commented on the nature of regional collaboration:
“We also believe that cooperation is an integrated outlook, not one subject to cherry-picking,” reaffirming India’s commitment to BIMSTEC unity.
He further added that projects like the Trilateral Highway will soon link India’s Northeast to the Pacific Ocean, reinforcing its geopolitical relevance.
Political Backlash in India
Yunus’s remarks triggered strong political responses from Indian leaders:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned the comments as "offensive."
Former Manipur CM N Biren Singh criticized Bangladesh’s interim government for treating the region as a "strategic pawn."
India’s Strategic Position in the Bay of Bengal
Jaishankar’s remarks serve to highlight India’s strategic position and leadership in the Bay of Bengal region, reaffirming its vision of inclusive and integrated regional development.
