US-India talks on Bangladesh situation

India media reports have quoted foreign ministry officials as saying US’ Dhaka envoy Dan Mozena went to Delhi uninvited.

The ‘Economic Times’ quoted an Indian official as saying: “India and Bangladesh are on the same page with the emerging situation. The US envoy was not invited to India but visited Delhi as per decision of his government.”

Quoting unnamed officials of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the financial daily said Mozena tried to figure out India’s approach to handle the situation in Bangladesh.

US Ambassador Dan Mozena [File Photo]

The report said three issues came up for discussion — establishing ‘peace and stability’ in Bangladesh, the need for ‘free and fair elections where all parties participate’ and the need to counter ‘extremism and terrorism’.

The US ambassador in Dhaka rushed to Delhi last week after meeting his Indian counterpart in Dhaka Pankaj Saran.

On Friday, he met senior officials of India’s external affairs ministry, the Economic Times said.

He had earlier briefed US ambassador in India, Nancy Powell.

Why would Mozena visit India uninvited? What were the compulsions to rush to Delhi uninvited? Was Mozena’s meeting with Saran cordial or otherwise?

Both embassies are tight lipped on what was discussed by the two envoys — and whether there were differences and if so, whether they were serious enough!

Mozena has earlier told the Dhaka media that his parleys with Pankaj Saran were to promote India-Bangladesh trade.

India and US both appear keen to get a dialogue started between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to break the country’s current logjam, but Indian analysts say Delhi tends to differ with Washington on how to go about it.

Source: Bd news24