India Criticizes Controversial US Visa Policy for Bangladesh
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| India Criticizes Controversial US Visa Policy for Bangladesh (Image Source: dhakatribune.com) |
- India has expressed its belief that the visa policy is not productive
- Raises concerns about the unequal treatment of Pakistan and Bangladesh
India has communicated unequivocally to the United States (US) that it opposes the contentious visa policy aimed at Bangladeshi citizens.
India holds the view that such a "restrictive approach" would not contribute to the promotion of transparent and equitable elections in Bangladesh.
Instead, it could lead to unintended consequences that may undermine regional stability and security.
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On the 24th of May this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled a plan to withhold visas from individuals impeding the process of conducting free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
However, subsequent clarifications revealed that this policy would encompass politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties in Bangladesh.
This announcement has triggered a substantial discourse within Bangladesh.
India, a significant neighboring nation to Bangladesh, has yet to officially address the visa policy.
Nonetheless, Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, has consistently emphasized India's expectation that Bangladesh's national elections will adhere to its constitution and be conducted punctually.
However, the disparity between the US visa policy and India's aspirations has grown increasingly apparent within the halls of Delhi's South Block.
Over the past few weeks, Delhi has articulated a robust rationale to various tiers of the US administration, conveying India's perspective that the visa policy for Bangladesh could yield "counterproductive" outcomes.
During the upcoming BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is anticipated to engage in a separate dialogue with her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Hasina will be a special invitee at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, where she will share the platform with global leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Modi.
Speculation also suggests that Modi and Hasina are likely to convene privately in Delhi.
The government led by Narendra Modi is keen on using these significant interactions to articulate its stance on the US visa policy to the Bangladesh government.
There are indications that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive a briefing on New Delhi's cautious and diplomatic "negotiations" with Washington concerning this matter.
Expert Perspectives
In the wake of the recent US visa policy announcement, two distinguished analysts hailing from opposite corners of the globe penned separate articles delving into the multifaceted dimensions of the issue.
One article was contributed by Ali Riaz, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council South Asia Center and a distinguished professor at Illinois State University.
The other piece came from Brahma Chellaney, professor emeritus of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi and a former adviser to India's National Security Council.
Dr. Ali Riaz, an academic with Bangladeshi roots, elucidated in his article titled "Implications of the New US Visa Policy for Bangladesh" that historically, visa restrictions were imposed on nations like Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, Nicaragua, and Belarus due to their actions undermining democracy and electoral processes under various legal frameworks.
Typically, these measures were enacted post-elections, but the outcomes have been less than remarkable, prompting questions about the potential differential impact on Bangladesh.
Dr. Riaz highlighted the encouraging aspect of implementing such measures around seven months prior to Bangladesh's elections, enabling proactive interventions from Washington as opposed to reactive measures after the fact.
He noted, "The announcement's repercussions are palpable, particularly among government-affiliated individuals who either intend to visit the US in the future or have family already residing there.
This pressure will undoubtedly resonate among Bangladesh's political and economic elites," as stated in his article featured on the Atlantic Council blog.
On a different note, Brahma Chellaney contended that the US' inconsistent treatment of the two South Asian nations — Bangladesh and Pakistan — epitomizes hypocrisy.
He pointed out the paradox of the US threatening visa rejections in the name of upholding democracy in Bangladesh, while remaining mute about the "unofficial martial law scenario in Pakistan."
Chellaney reminded readers that prior instances of US sanctions against Myanmar, Iran, Belarus, or Cuba failed to yield any significant political transformation.
After a thorough and gradual review of the visa policy, India has aligned itself with the viewpoints expressed by Brahma Chellaney.
A comprehensive exploration of Chellaney's perspective can be found in an opinion piece published on Nikkei Asia.
Delhi's Communication to Washington
The central query remains: what are India's specific contentions against the contentious visa policy enforced by the United States?
Over the past month, the Indian government has dispatched a sequence of diplomatic communiqués to the Biden administration.
Furthermore, Indian officials have consistently broached this matter in discussions with their American counterparts.
These discussions were initiated subsequent to Prime Minister Modi's widely discussed visit to the US during the third week of June.
Delhi's intention was to prevent the issue with Bangladesh from casting a shadow on that visit.
Several of India's points of contention include:
1. Just as the US desires a transparent and equitable election in Bangladesh, India shares this aspiration.
However, the prospect of visa denial is unlikely to contribute to the fulfillment of this objective.
In reality, the announcement of the visa policy, along with its timing, implies that this decision could needlessly disrupt the incumbent government of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh.
This government has maintained a secular and stable administration in the nation for 15 years and has propelled the country toward economic advancement.
2. In the case of Myanmar, US sanctions have proven counterproductive and have further jeopardized democracy within the country.
There is also an inclination to perceive that the US sanctions targeting Myanmar's army chief, Min Aung Hlaing, and three other senior military commanders played a role in instigating the military coup.
India is also of the view that these sanctions have pushed Myanmar into a closer alliance with China, a nation that stands in opposition to the United States.
3. India has also voiced apprehensions about the US' approach toward Pakistan, presenting valid reasons to suspect a dual application of democratic standards in relation to Bangladesh and Pakistan.
While Pakistan resorts to tactics such as forced disappearances, torture, and widespread detentions for political motives, the US has remained notably reticent.
Curiously, when it pertains to Bangladesh, the US showcases a proactive stance.
4. India has also underscored that the promotion of democracy in any nation cannot be achieved through intimidation or coercion.
The imposition of a visa ban on Bangladesh could lead to adverse outcomes and would be detrimental.
Nonetheless, once the US visa policy is publicized, retracting it before the elections becomes unfeasible—an aspect recognized by India as well.
Presently, New Delhi is hopeful that Washington will display flexibility in implementing the policy once it comprehends India's perspective on the matter.
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