Source / Courtesy: Times of India
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s upcoming visit to Bangladesh – along with the chief ministers of five bordering Indian states – is ground-breaking in more ways than one. For far too long, India’s South Asia policy had a single-minded focus on Pakistan. While the latter is indeed important, it has taken away attention from fostering healthy ties with other neighbours. Nurturing mutually beneficial relations with all countries in our immediate neighbourhood would not only create a virtuous model of regional interdependency, it would also highlight the potential that lies in normalised India-Pakistan ties. In this respect, Bangladesh can be our equal partner in bringing about a paradigm shift in regional relations.