Diplomatic Correspondent — India is keeping a watchful eye on developing strategic engagements between Dhaka and Beijing, specifically regarding Bangladesh’s potential purchase of Chinese J-10CE multi role fighter jets and discussions surrounding the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor.
Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), affirmed New Delhi’s stance during a weekly press briefing on Friday.
Responding to inquiries about the Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s recent visit to China and the bilateral defense and economic proposals on the table, Jaiswal stated, “We closely monitor all such developments in our region and take appropriate measures as required.”
Strategic Undercurrents and Regional Security
The scrutiny from New Delhi comes amidst shifting dynamics in South Asian geopolitics. Bangladesh’s consideration of China’s J-10CE fighter jets and the proposed tri-nation economic corridor has drawn significant attention from regional defense analysts.
While Chinese officials have explicitly maintained that their bilateral cooperation with Dhaka does not target any third country, India remains highly vigilant regarding the expanding footprint of Beijing’s defense and infrastructure network near its borders.
The Teesta River Project Consensus
The briefing also touched upon the highly sensitive Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. The transboundary river has long been a focal point of hydro-politics between India and Bangladesh.
Addressing China’s growing interest in financing and cooperating on the Teesta management framework, Jaiswal noted that India has already communicated its perspective and concerns directly to the Bangladeshi government.
“Our developmental assistance for projects in Bangladesh is based on a mutually agreed roadmap, which is reviewed on a regular basis,” Jaiswal added, emphasizing that India evaluates all interconnected developments under its broader diplomatic and regional policies.
This follows recent assertions from Bangladeshi leadership during the China visit that the Teesta Barrage Master Plan remains a crucial “national priority” to be implemented effectively.
Firm Stance on Pakistan and the Indus Water Treaty
Shifting the focus to western border dynamics, the MEA spokesperson also reiterated India’s unwavering position regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.
Jaiswal confirmed that discussions and progress regarding the treaty remain stalled, directly linking the impasse to Islamabad’s ongoing patronage of cross-border terrorism.
New Delhi maintained that its stance on the treaty is unchanged, emphasizing that any future diplomatic movement requires Pakistan to tangibly, credibly, and irreversibly cease its support for cross-border terror networks.
As regional partnerships evolve rapidly, India continues to balance its “Neighborhood First” policy with a strict focus on national security and strategic autonomy.
By maintaining a rigorous monitoring regime over China-Bangladesh negotiations while setting firm conditions for engagement with Pakistan, New Delhi signals its commitment to safeguarding its geopolitical interests across both its eastern and western frontiers.