TDS Desk:

India has not clearly confirmed the alignment with the US on the current affairs of Bangladesh despite recent high-level engagements between the two countries.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reportedly discussed the Bangladesh issue with new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the first formal engagement between President Donald Trump’s administration and the government of India in Washington recently.

“Yes, we had a brief discussion on Bangladesh. I don’t think it’s appropriate that I get into more details” Jaishankar said while speaking to journalists.

Asked whether India and the US are on the same page on the current situation of Bangladesh, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Friday did not comment on the matter.

“The external affairs minister did discuss with his US counterpart Marco Rubio bilateral, global and regional issues. But I’m not sure whether it was also discussed in the QUAD meeting. But the statement issued after QUAD signifies the engagement among QUAD nations and the external affairs minister. The meeting is itself a message.”

“India and Bangladesh have an understanding about the fencing at the international border. Fencing is required to stop criminal activities at the border. We think the understanding between India and Bangladesh on border-related issues was done earlier. And hope that Bangladesh authorities will take it positively and constructively for the implementation. A crime-free border is the need of the hour,” Randhir Jaiswal said.

About the report of the visit of a delegation of Pakistan Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) to Bangladesh, which was reported in Indian media, he said, “We keep a close watch on the development for the security interest of our country. If necessary, we take appropriate steps for the security of our country. We always maintain a close eye, especially on developments happening in our neighbourhood.”

The MEA spokesperson expressed the hope that Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be visiting China on 26-28 January when the issue of building a mega dam in the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River will be up for discussion.”

As a lower riparian country, India has concerns about the mega hydroelectric project.