Guest guest Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 India and Bangladesh .. Regarding "India is causing trouble" (Views, Jan. 22) by Philip Bowring: The writer dismisses India's claim as a secular state and paints the country as one brimming with Hindu fundamentalism that is inspiring its aggressive attitude towards its neighbors. But he fails to mention the difficult choices that Indian leaders face as they attempt to curb the deadly attacks on civilians by Islamic terrorists that have become routine in Kashmir and other Indian states. .. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is known for his benign nature and has made genuine attempts to make peace with India's hostile neighbor, Pakistan, including the 1999 "Lahore Declaration." He followed that with a similar trip to Bangladesh in June 1999. .. Contrary to the picture of animosity presented in the article, Bangladeshis and Indians, especially Bengalis in the Indian state of West Bengal, share a common heritage that extends from literature to the local cuisine. .. India's credentials as a secular state should not be doubted. Regardless of the political environment, people of all faiths in India's villages and cities are among the most tolerant in the world. .. Pramit Mitra, Takoma Park, Maryland The writer, usually well-founded, has taken a position on Bangladesh that is removed from reality. Bangladesh is far from secular and indeed actually dropped this provision from its original constitution to declare itself formally an Islamic republic. The percentage of minorities in the population has declined sharply since 1975. Two self-avowed fundamentalist Islamic parties, led by professed admirers of the Taliban, are partners in the governing coalition. .. Taslima Nasreen, a noted Bangladeshi writer and a Muslim, has had to flee and seek refuge abroad in the face of death threats from fundamentalists incensed at her depiction of the harsh plight of the Hindu minority. Anti-Indian terrorist and insurgent groups have bases and full freedom of activity with access to arms and funds. Finally, there is nothing to controvert Time magazine's detailed exposé of jihadi activity. .. If the U.S. ambassador is so convinced that Bangladesh is not a dangerous new front in America's war against terrorism, why has the U.S. administration included Bangladeshis among the nationalities covered by strict new immigration and visa regulations? .. Girish Dhume, ambassador of India (retired), New Delhi .. Sovereignty and solidarity .. Regarding "Asians are wary of pushy outsiders" (Views, Jan. 23) by Amitav Acharya: .. The writer states that Asia's recent move toward regional multilateralism came primarily from a desire to preserve the existing rules of international relations, especially those related to sovereignty. This is true, but not enough. The ASEAN Bangkok Declaration, signed on Aug. 8, 1967, states that the signatories of the constitutive act of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are "mindful of the existence of mutual interests and common problems among countries of Southeast Asia and convinced of the need to strengthen further the existing bonds of regional solidarity and cooperation." .. In recent documents, the 10 ASEAN members agreed that the organization should help hasten the development of a regional identity and solidarity, and pointed out that their political cooperation is aimed chiefly at strengthening solidarity, harmonizing views on political and security issues of common concern, coordinating positions and, wherever necessary, possible and desirable, taking common actions. .. Ioan Voicu, Bangkok < < Back to Start of Article India and Bangladesh .. Regarding "India is causing trouble" (Views, Jan. 22) by Philip Bowring: The writer dismisses India's claim as a secular state and paints the country as one brimming with Hindu fundamentalism that is inspiring its aggressive attitude towards its neighbors. But he fails to mention the difficult choices that Indian leaders face as they attempt to curb the deadly attacks on civilians by Islamic terrorists that have become routine in Kashmir and other Indian states. .. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is known for his benign nature and has made genuine attempts to make peace with India's hostile neighbor, Pakistan, including the 1999 "Lahore Declaration." He followed that with a similar trip to Bangladesh in June 1999. .. Contrary to the picture of animosity presented in the article, Bangladeshis and Indians, especially Bengalis in the Indian state of West Bengal, share a common heritage that extends from literature to the local cuisine. .. India's credentials as a secular state should not be doubted. Regardless of the political environment, people of all faiths in India's villages and cities are among the most tolerant in the world. .. Pramit Mitra, Takoma Park, Maryland The writer, usually well-founded, has taken a position on Bangladesh that is removed from reality. Bangladesh is far from secular and indeed actually dropped this provision from its original constitution to declare itself formally an Islamic republic. The percentage of minorities in the population has declined sharply since 1975. Two self-avowed fundamentalist Islamic parties, led by professed admirers of the Taliban, are partners in the governing coalition. .. Taslima Nasreen, a noted Bangladeshi writer and a Muslim, has had to flee and seek refuge abroad in the face of death threats from fundamentalists incensed at her depiction of the harsh plight of the Hindu minority. Anti-Indian terrorist and insurgent groups have bases and full freedom of activity with access to arms and funds. Finally, there is nothing to controvert Time magazine's detailed exposé of jihadi activity. .. If the U.S. ambassador is so convinced that Bangladesh is not a dangerous new front in America's war against terrorism, why has the U.S. administration included Bangladeshis among the nationalities covered by strict new immigration and visa regulations? .. Girish Dhume, ambassador of India (retired), New Delhi .. Sovereignty and solidarity .. Regarding "Asians are wary of pushy outsiders" (Views, Jan. 23) by Amitav Acharya: .. The writer states that Asia's recent move toward regional multilateralism came primarily from a desire to preserve the existing rules of international relations, especially those related to sovereignty. This is true, but not enough. The ASEAN Bangkok Declaration, signed on Aug. 8, 1967, states that the signatories of the constitutive act of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are "mindful of the existence of mutual interests and common problems among countries of Southeast Asia and convinced of the need to strengthen further the existing bonds of regional solidarity and cooperation." .. In recent documents, the 10 ASEAN members agreed that the organization should help hasten the development of a regional identity and solidarity, and pointed out that their political cooperation is aimed chiefly at strengthening solidarity, harmonizing views on political and security issues of common concern, coordinating positions and, wherever necessary, possible and desirable, taking common actions. .. Ioan Voicu, Bangkok India and Bangladesh .. Regarding "India is causing trouble" (Views, Jan. 22) by Philip Bowring: The writer dismisses India's claim as a secular state and paints the country as one brimming with Hindu fundamentalism that is inspiring its aggressive attitude towards its neighbors. But he fails to mention the difficult choices that Indian leaders face as they attempt to curb the deadly attacks on civilians by Islamic terrorists that have become routine in Kashmir and other Indian states. .. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is known for his benign nature and has made genuine attempts to make peace with India's hostile neighbor, Pakistan, including the 1999 "Lahore Declaration." He followed that with a similar trip to Bangladesh in June 1999. .. Contrary to the picture of animosity presented in the article, Bangladeshis and Indians, especially Bengalis in the Indian state of West Bengal, share a common heritage that extends from literature to the local cuisine. .. India's credentials as a secular state should not be doubted. Regardless of the political environment, people of all faiths in India's villages and cities are among the most tolerant in the world. .. Pramit Mitra, Takoma Park, Maryland The writer, usually well-founded, has taken a position on Bangladesh that is removed from reality. Bangladesh is far from secular and indeed actually dropped this provision from its original constitution to declare itself formally an Islamic republic. The percentage of minorities in the population has declined sharply since 1975. Two self-avowed fundamentalist Islamic parties, led by professed admirers of the Taliban, are partners in the governing coalition. .. Taslima Nasreen, a noted Bangladeshi writer and a Muslim, has had to flee and seek refuge abroad in the face of death threats from fundamentalists incensed at her depiction of the harsh plight of the Hindu minority. Anti-Indian terrorist and insurgent groups have bases and full freedom of activity with access to arms and funds. Finally, there is nothing to controvert Time magazine's detailed exposé of jihadi activity. .. If the U.S. ambassador is so convinced that Bangladesh is not a dangerous new front in America's war against terrorism, why has the U.S. administration included Bangladeshis among the nationalities covered by strict new immigration and visa regulations? .. Girish Dhume, ambassador of India (retired), New Delhi .. Sovereignty and solidarity .. Regarding "Asians are wary of pushy outsiders" (Views, Jan. 23) by Amitav Acharya: .. The writer states that Asia's recent move toward regional multilateralism came primarily from a desire to preserve the existing rules of international relations, especially those related to sovereignty. This is true, but not enough. The ASEAN Bangkok Declaration, signed on Aug. 8, 1967, states that the signatories of the constitutive act of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are "mindful of the existence of mutual interests and common problems among countries of Southeast Asia and convinced of the need to strengthen further the existing bonds of regional solidarity and cooperation." .. In recent documents, the 10 ASEAN members agreed that the organization should help hasten the development of a regional identity and solidarity, and pointed out that their political cooperation is aimed chiefly at strengthening solidarity, harmonizing views on political and security issues of common concern, coordinating positions and, wherever necessary, possible and desirable, taking common actions. .. Ioan Voicu, Bangkok India and Bangladesh .. Regarding "India is causing trouble" (Views, Jan. 22) by Philip Bowring: The writer dismisses India's claim as a secular state and paints the country as one brimming with Hindu fundamentalism that is inspiring its aggressive attitude towards its neighbors. But he fails to mention the difficult choices that Indian leaders face as they attempt to curb the deadly attacks on civilians by Islamic terrorists that have become routine in Kashmir and other Indian states. .. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is known for his benign nature and has made genuine attempts to make peace with India's hostile neighbor, Pakistan, including the 1999 "Lahore Declaration." He followed that with a similar trip to Bangladesh in June 1999. .. Contrary to the picture of animosity presented in the article, Bangladeshis and Indians, especially Bengalis in the Indian state of West Bengal, share a common heritage that extends from literature to the local cuisine. .. India's credentials as a secular state should not be doubted. Regardless of the political environment, people of all faiths in India's villages and cities are among the most tolerant in the world. .. Pramit Mitra, Takoma Park, Maryland The writer, usually well-founded, has taken a position on Bangladesh that is removed from reality. Bangladesh is far from secular and indeed actually dropped this provision from its original constitution to declare itself formally an Islamic republic. The percentage of minorities in the population has declined sharply since 1975. Two self-avowed fundamentalist Islamic parties, led by professed admirers of the Taliban, are partners in the governing coalition. .. Taslima Nasreen, a noted Bangladeshi writer and a Muslim, has had to flee and seek refuge abroad in the face of death threats from fundamentalists incensed at her depiction of the harsh plight of the Hindu minority. Anti-Indian terrorist and insurgent groups have bases and full freedom of activity with access to arms and funds. Finally, there is nothing to controvert Time magazine's detailed exposé of jihadi activity. India is causing trouble For Bangladesh By Philip Bowring (IHT) Wednesday, January 22, 2003 DHAKA, Bangladesh: The inter-reaction of communal and international issues is raising levels of anxiety throughout South Asia. Bangladesh, which is not involved in any major dispute, is secular, democratic and open. But it is also the third most populous Muslim nation, and post-Sept. 11 events and the rise of Hindu fundamentalism in India have highlighted the Muslim/non-Muslim divide. Erosion of Indian secularism poses international dangers. Bangladesh's relations with India have always had the ups and downs inevitable given the differences in size and geography. It is almost surrounded by India and cut off from Southeast Asia by hill country. Slight friction might have been expected with the return in late 2001 to the prime ministership of Khaleda Zia, whose Bangladesh National Party has a reputation for being suspicious of India. But recent months have seen worse - Bangladesh portrayed by India as a hotbed of Islamic extremism, a center for operatives for Al Qaeda and Pakistani intelligence, and a base for terror attacks inside India. In addition to officially inspired press reports, Indian ministers have repeated these allegations. Opposition leaders in Bangladesh out to discredit the government have added their voices. Bombings actually attributable to localized political violence have been tagged "Al Qaeda." The presence of a small Islamist party in Begum Zia's coalition has been used to advance wild claims of growing fundamentalism. Such claims have been picked up and embroidered by foreign media. The U.S. ambassador had to come to Bangladesh's defense against Time magazine after it ran a lurid story about a shipload of jihadis arriving in Chittagong. The envoy said the report contained "numerous unsubstantiated allegations." She denied that Bangladesh was "a hotbed of radical Islam" or a "dangerous new front in America's war on terrorism." India's northeastern states have many problems, particularly conflict between tribal people and settlers. Some troublemakers take cover in Bangladesh just as Bangladeshi criminals do in India. But with its own history of problems in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and with security generally, Bangladesh has no obvious interest in disorder. Beyond these specific issues, India seems increasingly to assume that Bangladesh is sympathetic to Pakistan, despite memories of the war of liberation from Pakistan and the lack of proven involvement of Bengali Muslims with Al Qaeda or the Taliban. The allegations have hurt Bangladesh internationally. India's rhetoric appears linked to efforts by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party to drum up votes by appeals to Hindu communalism. BJP success in the Gujarat elections, which followed communal massacres, suggests that the formula works. If India's Muslims can be suspected (on no evidence) of support for Pakistan and Kashmiri militants, it is not surprising that Bangladesh is suspect, too. Relations became more difficult for Bangladesh this month when India's Interior Ministry claimed that 20 million Bangladeshis are living in India illegally, are a security threat and must be repatriated. Even given a somewhat porous border, the number is far- fetched. Most likely the threat is just rhetoric. But it contains the seeds of a serious dispute with Bangladesh and may implicitly question the Indian identity of many Indian Muslims. Bangladesh has tried to turn the other cheek. It cannot afford to do otherwise. Rather than turn to the mainstream Muslim world to balance the power of India, it has turned east. Begum Zia has recently been in Beijing and has exchanged visits with Thai and Burmese leaders. New transport routes to Southeast Asia are being opened, and Dha- ka is looking for private investment from Thailand and Malaysia and aid from China. Bangladesh's Look East policy does not endear it to New Delhi. Nor can it be of more than marginal economic benefit compared with trade with India. On that, Bangladesh has itself mainly to blame for lack of progress. It has declined to export gas primarily for nationalistic reasons, thus depriving itself of badly needed revenue. On security grounds it has blocked Indian requests to use Bangladesh railways and rivers for transit to its northeastern states. Dhaka clings to trade protection despite its ineffectiveness against smuggling from India. Begum Zia's government may want to take political risks for the sake of the economy and do gas, trade and transport deals, but India's hostility on other issues is hardening nationalistic attitudes here. More "Hindu identity" talk from India's leaders might start to radicalize Muslims hitherto more interested in Bengali language issues and robust parliamentary politics than in the politics of religion. The subcontinent can live with a contained Pakistan-India face-off five decades old. But it cannot live with communalism, which undermines the basis of modern India and sets India against another populous Muslim neighbor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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