India cautions Bangladesh against 'normalizing terrorism' during SAARC discussions

India Blames Pakistan for SAARC Stalemate, Cautions Bangladesh Against 'Normalizing Terrorism'

• India has once again held Pakistan responsible for the stagnation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) after Bangladesh called for reviving the regional bloc.
• Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly cautioned Bangladesh against “normalizing terrorism” while addressing the issue.
• Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that this discussion took place during Jaishankar’s meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain in Muscat, Oman.
• During a weekly briefing, Jaiswal stated that Bangladesh raised the issue of SAARC during the meeting, to which Jaishankar reiterated India’s concerns about terrorism.
• He further emphasized that “everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are responsible for obstructing SAARC.”
• SAARC has remained largely inactive for over a decade due to strained India-Pakistan relations, with no summit held since 2014.
• Following the political shift in Bangladesh in August 2024, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has been advocating for reviving the regional bloc.
• Yunus, in a meeting on December 12, highlighted SAARC’s importance and stated that regional cooperation should not be hindered by bilateral disputes between India and Pakistan.
• Bangladesh's Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain echoed similar sentiments in an article in the Indian Express, expressing Bangladesh’s commitment to reviving SAARC and calling for India’s support.
• During the Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat, Touhid met Jaishankar and pushed for convening a SAARC Standing Committee meeting.
• Bangladesh’s foreign ministry later urged India to reconsider its position on the matter.
• When asked about remarks made by some Bangladeshi advisors, which were deemed “aggressive,” Jaiswal noted that such statements were unhelpful and urged individuals to reflect on their implications.