India to prepare for 3.5 front war as Pakistan, China, Bangladesh hold secret meeting in Kunming... what are they planning?
In the rapidly changing geopolitics, India's security concerns are now taking a new form. Now is not the time when there was a threat on the borders only from Pakistan and China. The '2.5 front war' that General Bipin Rawat talked about a decade ago, now seems to be changing into a '3.5 front war'.
The reason for this is the first trilateral meeting of Pakistan, China and Bangladesh in Kunming city of China recently. This meeting between officials of China, Pakistan and Bangladesh on June 19 was for the first time, but its message was big. China's Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladesh's Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddiqui and Pakistan's Additional Foreign Secretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting. Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated through video link.
The meeting was called 'Development Friendly Trilateral Dialogue', but its diplomatic meaning goes far beyond this. The statement issued after the meeting talked about 'people centric development in the South Asian region'. But given Bangladesh's executive leadership and its recent closeness with China, for India it seems more like a strategic alignment than diplomacy.
Why is India's concern about Bangladesh increasing?
In March 2025, Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Prof. Mohammad Yunus, during his visit to China, described Bangladesh as a political and economic partner of China. He had said that China should make way through Bangladesh to reach the market of Northeast India. This was the statement after which India banned Bangladesh's textile products on 17 May. Bangladesh was considered a strategic friend of India as long as Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister. However, after Hasina's coup, the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has increased its closeness with Pakistan and China.
What is the danger of a 3.5 front war?
General Bipin Rawat, while talking about '2.5 front war', had said that India will have to face the challenge of terrorism and internal security along with China and Pakistan. But now this equation seems to be changing after seeing the role of Bangladesh.
Rakhine Corridor: Another emerging tension zone
The Rohingya crisis was discussed in the recent talks between Bangladesh and America. Along with this, Bangladesh's National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman has advocated a 'humanitarian corridor' to Myanmar's Rakhine province. This area is very sensitive from a strategic point of view for India, China and Bangladesh. America is also now showing interest in this area.
India must be prepared
India will have to understand the new realities by leaving behind its strategic perspective. It will have to take the issues related to Bangladesh more seriously on both diplomatic and defence fronts. Along with this, it will be necessary to strengthen connectivity, economic blockade and border monitoring in Northeast India. '3.5 Front War' is no longer a fantasy, but an emerging reality. And India will have to be prepared for it.
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