Islamabad: In a joint appeal, distinguished figures from Dhaka, Colombo, and Kathmandu have called on India to halt its interference in their domestic affairs, emphasizing the need for respect of national sovereignty following recent political shifts in Bangladesh.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the appeal was issued by Firdous Azim, Kanak Mani Dixit, Lakshman Gunasekara, Manzoor Hasan, and Sushil Pyakurel, who represent a cross-section of academic, journalistic, and human rights backgrounds from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, respectively. Their statement critically addresses India’s historical and ongoing political, bureaucratic, and intelligence interventions, which they argue undermine democracy and socioeconomic progress in their countries.
The collective statement detailed the specific grievances and historical contexts of Indian involvement in each country, from the militarized interventions in Sri Lanka during the Tamil insurgency to the economic and political pressures exerted on Nepal and Bangladesh. It highlighted the broader implications of such interventions for regional stability and criticized the Narendra Modi government’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy as inconsistent with the actions taken by Indian authorities.
Furthermore, the signatories urge a reevaluation of New Delhi’s foreign policy towards its neighbors, suggesting that a less interventionist approach would lead to better relations and mutual respect among South Asian nations. They advocate for an independent, introspective reassessment of India’s regional policies by its own academic and media institutions to prevent historical missteps from repeating.