EAM Jaishankar Warns Bangladesh Leaders Over 'Ridiculous' Accusations, Urges Clarity On Ties With India

Days after meeting Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain in Muscat, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has cautioned Bangladesh over its inconsistent stance towards India.

He advised Dhaka to avoid making some of the "ridiculous" accusations that certain leaders of the interim government have levelled against New Delhi.

Photo Credit: PTI

Jaishankar's warning comes amid Bangladesh's increasingly hostile approach towards India. Expressing his concerns firmly, he stated that Bangladesh must "make up their mind" about the direction they wish their relationship with India to take.

Highlighting Dhaka's contradictory behaviour, Jaishankar remarked that Bangladesh cannot claim to seek good relations with India while simultaneously blaming New Delhi for its domestic challenges.

"If, on a daily basis, members of the interim government stand up and hold India responsible for everything - some of which, if you look at the reports, are absolutely ridiculous - then it becomes untenable. You cannot, on the one hand, say 'I want good relations with you,' but then wake up every morning and attribute all your problems to us. They must decide," Jaishankar stated at a public function.

"They need to determine the kind of relationship they want with New Delhi moving forward. Our ties with Bangladesh are long-standing and deeply rooted in history, particularly since 1971," he added.

Jaishankar also reiterated India's concerns regarding the situation in Bangladesh and its impact on bilateral relations.

"There are two key issues affecting our ties. The first is the series of communal attacks on minorities, which is deeply troubling for India. This clearly influences our perspective, and it is something we have spoken up about," he noted.

"The second issue is Bangladesh's internal politics. While one may agree or disagree with it, at the end of the day, we are their neighbours, and they must decide on their broader approach towards us," he explained.

The Indian government, he stated, has sent a "clear message" to Bangladesh, expressing a desire for stability while criticising Dhaka's continued hostile rhetoric towards India.

During his meeting with Hossain last week, Jaishankar had also cautioned Bangladesh against "normalising terrorism," particularly in light of Pakistan's growing influence in the country.

When asked whether the regional organisation SAARC was discussed in his meeting with Hossain, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed: "Yes, the matter was raised by the Bangladeshi side during the External Affairs Minister's meeting with Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser in Muscat. It was acknowledged that all South Asian nations are aware of which country and its activities are obstructing SAARC. The EAM stressed that it is crucial for Bangladesh not to normalise terrorism."

Jaishankar and Hossain had previously met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year, marking the first high-level engagement between India and Bangladesh's interim government following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.