By Aroosa Hafeez

Fifty years since East Pakistan liberation war of 1971, both the countries have distinct memories of the war however, third party India played a major role in liberating East Pakistan from the West Pakistan. India and Pakistan have been old rivals. Diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh were not developed because of their geographical proximity but because of the Liberation war in which India assisted Bengali liberation militants. India, from the start till now has not missed any chance to fuel tensions between Bangladesh and Pakistan. No doubt that there were internal reasons of conflict between the two sides but India on the other hand took full advantage of these conflicts to increase tensions for its personal interests. Hence, after liberation war Bangladesh turned into the main ally of India.

India saw the 1971 liberation war as a refugee crisis, which turned into a humanitarian crisis for India but actually it was more than a humanitarian crises, a “self-interest” which led India to join in the war that broke-up Pakistan into two pieces, thus created Bangladesh. Since the independence of Bangladesh, India has been interfering in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. Starting from intervention in domestic politics to the internal affairs of the state, India has maintained its hegemonic behavior, which clearly depicts Indian policy is focused on internal matters.

Certainly, fall of Dhaka came with major gains for India. Political enemies on the two sides were replaced by an ally on one side and rival on the other side. Moreover, India’s political geo-strategic consideration was hardly a secret. East Pakistan crisis in 1971 came with a golden opportunity for India to breakup its enemy. Undoubtedly, the Indian supportive role in Bangladesh liberation war stemmed out of its real politic, economic and strategic concerns. India has long been involved in secret war in Bangladesh since independence. India has always supported authoritarianism in Bangladesh but Bangladesh has strived to hold onto its democratic path.

India cannot deny the fact that the breakup of Pakistan was in it’s our own interest, an opportunity, which was never to come again. After the independence, rampant smuggling of goods from Bangladesh to India deteriorated the economy of the nation. Indian Border security forces (BSF) frequently crossed Bangladesh’s border, ignoring international laws, destroying properties of the locals, plundering their resources and Indian withdrawal of the Ganges water through the operation of the Farakkah barrage, which had tragic effects in the southwest part of Bangladesh, all were loud and clear signals of Indian hegemonic policy. The raising of the Rakkhi Bahini and its assistance by Indian military, the influence of Indian officials in Bangladesh’s government, large scale smuggling of goods from country, the removal of the ban on exporting raw jutes from Bangladesh to India, , the printing of currency notes in India, the devaluation of currency and the interference of Indian army, all these actions showed that the real intention behind Indian involvement in the Bangladesh’s liberation war were India’s own political, economic and strategic interests. The India’s creation of the barrage was an exercise of Indian influence over Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s is situated at a crucial point of south Asia and shares the fifth-longest land boundary with India in the world. Since the liberation war, it has been important for India to maintain so-called positive relations with Bangladesh to bolster its own security and border management. Bangladesh is the center form where connectivity could spread both towards the west (India, Nepal and Bhutan) and to East (Land route through Myanmar ending in Vietnam’s Ports). Five Indian states have common borders with Bangladesh. Today, Indo-Pacific aspirations of India is the main reason for India to maintain friendly ties with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will celebrate the 50th anniversary from March 17^th to 27^th. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also visit Dhaka for the Independence Day celebrations of Bangladesh on March 26^th, 2021. Modi’s visit is to symbolize friendly ties between both the countries but nothing seems well in the bilateral relationship. A large number of people and student activists rallied in Bangladesh’s capital to denounce the upcoming visit of Modi to join the celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary of independence. Protestors chanted anti-India and anti-Modi slogans, asking him not to visit Dhaka. The protesters also criticized Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for inviting Modi, saying the two countries had many disputed issues.

Earlier, in December 2020 India and Bangladesh both held virtual summit and discussed the topics about boosting bilateral trade, investment and transportation links but avoided the issues of dispute. So far, India and Bangladesh have also been unable to strike a deal on the Teesta river dispute. Furthermore, India’s controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the border killings and absolute humiliation of being called 'termites' by India's Home Minister Amit Shah has worsened the relations. Bangladesh being the most trusted ally of India, has every reason to get distressed.

Today India has lost Bangladesh to much extent, one of its closest ally because of its policies. A raft of issues from water disputes to other tension have sowed mistrust and strained the ties between both countries however, Bangladesh is now working out to bolster its ties with its good friends. Pakistan is very much back in the game. However, it is too early to predict about the complete shift of Bangladesh’s foreign policy regarding Pakistan but indeed, 50 years after the war, 1971 still remains heart-breaking for people of both countries Bangladesh and Pakistan. Bangladesh has been separated from Pakistan but no matter what, Pakistan will ever remain its supporter and well-wisher.