After a recent trilateral meeting between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated its watchful stance toward regional developments. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum and the 9th China-South Asia Exposition in Yunnan, China, on June 19, 2025.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Pakistan’s Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific), Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, and Bangladesh’s acting foreign secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique attended. Amna Baloch, Pakistan’s foreign secretary to China, joined via video link.
China and Pakistan have referred to the trilateral engagement as the “inaugural meeting of the trilateral mechanism,” while Bangladesh has called it a “informal meeting.” This has garnered attention in New Delhi. China and Pakistan have stated that the three nations intend to investigate potential collaboration in fields like trade, maritime affairs, agriculture, human resources, education, and culture, as well as climate change.
India’s commitment to closely monitoring developments in its neighborhood that could impact its interests and security was emphasized by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a press briefing.
According to him, “We keep a close eye on neighborhood developments that affect our security and interests…” Even though each nation is independent, our interactions with them also take into consideration the changing environment.
India and Bangladesh are experiencing increased trade tensions at the time of the trilateral meeting. In response to Bangladesh’s own restrictions on Indian staples like yarn and rice, as well as the imposition of a transit fee on Indian cargo, India recently placed restrictions on imports from Bangladesh via land ports.
India is awaiting the resolution of long-standing issues that have been brought up in prior bilateral discussions, including discussions at the Commerce Secretary level, the MEA explained, adding that these trade-related amendments were made in response to Bangladesh’s pursuit of fairness, equal treatment, and reciprocity.
The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) estimates that the new restrictions imposed by India will affect goods valued at around USD 770 million, or roughly 42% of all bilateral imports. The directive essentially prohibits entry through land ports by directing all imports of ready-made clothing from Bangladesh through the seaports of Nhava Sheva and Kolkata. This action represents a significant departure from the two nations’ prior cooperative trade relationship and also impacts products like processed foods.
Complex regional diplomacy and strategic calculations are highlighted by the changing dynamics in South Asia, which are exemplified by the China-Pakistan-Bangladesh trilateral meeting and the ongoing trade tensions. India intends to protect national interests while negotiating the shifting geopolitical landscape, as evidenced by its cautious approach and emphasis on reciprocity.
