India hinted that it wants to reach an understanding with the United States regarding Bangladesh in the final phase of the current Congress government.
“There were obviously some differences of perception that I noticed last time I was there (Washington),” Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told Indian daily The Hindu.
The differences were “particularly over the actions of the present government (in Bangladesh) with regard to some of their own internal situations,” he added.
Khurshid pointed out that India’s understanding of Bangladesh would be “helpful” to the US. “While the US is at some distance from Bangladesh, we are right next to it.”
“So our understanding of the region and the sentiments of its people should be helpful in the positions they (United States) want to take.”
Regarding the prevailing political situation in Bangladesh, Khurshid commented by calling it “an obvious uncertainty” and “delicate” with the two main political parties in deadlock.
“We don’t take sides in elections in a friendly country. For democracy to prosper there should at least be a commitment that violence will not be allowed to distort the democratic process,” he added.
The Hindu report said officials at the Indian foreign ministry have been engaged in closing the gap with the US “for quite some time.”
The move to close the gap with the US over the Bangladesh issue takes place ahead of the end of the incumbent Congress’s rule, which will end on May 31 of next year.
A series of diplomatic talks have been held in and outside Bangladesh between several countries, including the US and India, ahead of the country’s national polls on January 5.
Recently, the United States directly initiated a move to mediate a dialogue between the Awami League and BNP, the two major political parties, ahead of the polls.
However, such attempts have failed since the BNP is not included in the polls and more than half of the 300 constituencies have already been won uncontested.
