The long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan is causing a shift in South Asian diplomatic relations, with India forging ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban, while Pakistan strengthens its relationship with Bangladesh’s new post-revolutionary government.
India’s pursuit of closer ties with the Taliban is driven by concerns over regional security and a desire to counter Pakistan’s influence. “You can’t have snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite your neighbors,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal remarked, emphasizing India’s strategic intentions.
Also Read: Discovery of “Dima” the Baby Mammoth: A Window Into the Ice Age
India’s top diplomat, Vikram Misri, met with Taliban Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in January to discuss cooperation, including the development of Iran’s Chabahar port to facilitate trade with Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is building stronger ties with Bangladesh after the August 2024 revolution that ousted long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. Relations between Bangladesh’s interim government and Pakistan have improved, marked by the arrival of the first direct cargo ship from Pakistan to Bangladesh in decades.
The growing diplomatic shifts reflect the old adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
