India proposes joint efforts with Bangladesh to counter AQIS
India says terrorism is a common scourge requiring joint efforts
Highlights
- Dhaka calls report's AQIS assessment assumption-driven
- India examining Bangladesh's additional diesel request
- Teesta issue to follow established bilateral mechanisms
India has expressed its willingness to work jointly with Bangladesh to combat terrorism after a UN Security Council committee report raised concerns that Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) may be seeking to use Bangladesh to establish terrorist cells.
"Terrorism and national security are matters that should concern everybody because it is a common scourge for all and we want to fight this problem together," Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi today (18 August).
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He was responding to questions about concerns raised in the 38th report of the UN Security Council's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team on Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, submitted under Resolution 2734 (2024), and whether India and Bangladesh have a bilateral mechanism for discussions on terrorism.
Jaiswal's remarks came a day after Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed described the UN report's concerns over an alleged Al-Qaeda attempt to establish cells in Bangladesh as "assumption-driven".
The home minister also said the government was not taking any action based on the report for now.
The UNSC committee report said the November 2025 attack on Delhi's Red Fort was officially attributed to AQIS and raised concerns over the group's attempts to use Bangladesh as a base to establish cells.
Asked about a possible visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Jaiswal said, "As and when there is an update on this issue, we will share it with you."
On Bangladesh's request for an additional 4,000 litres of diesel from India, the MEA spokesperson said the two countries have ongoing energy cooperation.
"As far as the additional request is concerned, we are examining this, given our own requirements, refining capacity as well as the availability on our side," he said.
Asked about the status of India's infrastructure development projects in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said India wants to maintain positive and constructive relations with Dhaka.
"India desires positive, constructive and forward-looking relations with Bangladesh based on mutual interests and reciprocity," he said.
On whether India had received a request from Bangladesh to resume talks on Teesta river water-sharing, Jaiswal said issues involving common rivers are handled through established bilateral mechanisms.
He cited the Joint River Commission and other technical committees dealing with water-sharing issues.
