Bangladesh is a little different: Jaishankar
September 26, 20242 Mins Read
International Desk: Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that India helps neighboring countries not under any conditions, but as a good neighbor. He also said that India is not trying to control the political actions of its neighboring countries. Regarding Bangladesh, he said, Bangladesh is a little different and India has also benefited from joint projects (with Bangladesh).

He said this in response to a question after a discussion at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York, USA.

Indian media The Hindu reported this information in a report on Wednesday (September 25).

According to the report, "India is not involved in financial assistance and other schemes to neighboring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh aimed at controlling internal political dynamics," said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Referring to the bail-out given to Sri Lanka due to economic crisis in 2022, the Indian foreign minister said that the financial assistance of about 4.5 billion US dollars that India gave to Sri Lanka was not given with any conditions.

Responding to a question about helping Bangladesh and Sri Lanka but not getting any benefits, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “It's not that—we had any political conditions that were included in it (aid). I mean, we were doing it (helping) as a good neighbor, because we didn't want to see this kind of economic downturn on our doorstep."

"So I think what is happening politically in Sri Lanka, at the end of the day, their politics will work," he claimed. This Indian minister said that it is not the intention of India to follow the political actions of neighboring countries which will be good for India.

According to Jaishankar, Bangladesh is a little different and India has also benefited (with Bangladesh) from joint projects.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “So I would request you not to think anything special about it. It is not that India wants to control every political move of every neighboring country.”