India is closely monitoring all developments, particularly those concerning its security, amid discussions over Bangladesh’s interest in joining the “Mecca Pact.”
Speaking at the weekly briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi on Friday, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India takes all necessary measures to safeguard its security interests.
The comments were made in response to a journalist’s query regarding Dhaka’s inclination towards joining the pact. The journalist noted that Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir, had initially expressed interest in the alliance.
Regarding Bangladesh’s potential entry, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman recently clarified that the question of joining has not officially arisen yet.
“We view this pact positively. The issue of joining or not joining has not arisen yet because it depends on the intention of the pact’s members. If they express an intention to include Bangladesh in this pact, we will certainly consider it positively,” he stated.
When asked about India’s stance on these comments, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal responded, “We are keeping a close eye on all developments, especially if it relates to India’s security. In safeguarding security, we take all necessary steps.”
‘Law and order is Dhaka’s responsibility’
The weekly briefing also touched upon recent attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. A journalist pointed out a recent incident in which two families were targeted and family members were killed.
The journalist questioned if the Bangladesh government was taking appropriate measures and whether this was a matter of concern for India.
In his response, Jaiswal refrained from making any adverse remarks against the Bangladesh administration. He simply stated, “Dealing with the law-and-order situation is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government. They should discharge that responsibility.”
