10.3 India – Bangladesh Relations

. India – Bangladesh Relations Bangladesh is one of the most important neighbours of India. Bangladesh is also a key partner to India in the South Asian region, and is crucial both for stability in the north- eastern region and as a bridge to South-East Asia. It is an important lynchpin to India’s ‘Look East’ policy. In , the Bengali Awami League Party won the Pakistani National Elections. But West Pakistan refused to recognize the election results and used brutal force to suppress the agitation by the Awami League Party. This situation led to near war scenario, with armed east Bengalis forming the Mukti of terrorist attacks that took place in November : members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamic terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, carried out coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday November and lasted until Saturday November . At least people died, including attackers, and more than were wounded. ™ Uri attack: A terrorist attack by four heavily armed terrorists on September near the town of Uri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir killed and left more than people injured. It was reported as “the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades”. ™ Pulwama attack: On February , a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar national highway was attacked by a vehicle-bound suicide bomber in Lethpora near Awantipora, Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack resulted in the death of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The responsibility of the attack was claimed by the Pakistan- based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Bahini (freedom force). India’s support to the Mukti Bahini by training and the supply of arms, became imminent with millions seeking refuge in India. Pakistan’s pre- emptive strike at India provided the Indian army the much needed excuse to attack East Pakistan. By December , Bangladesh emerged as an independent state. Historical Relations with Bangladesh can be traced to the idea