In the South Asian region, India has been a dominant force since independence.
Influenced by the strategic thinking of British colonialists, India viewed the entire South Asian region as within its sphere of influence.
Through multiple wars and political interventions, India attempted to establish leadership in the region.
While outcomes varied in wars with its northern neighbors, within South Asia, India frequently used military and political means to consolidate its influence.
India initiated three wars with Pakistan, annexed Sikkim, intervened in Sri Lanka's civil war, and closely aligned with Nepal and Bhutan.
Notably, during the Third Indo-Pakistani War, India successfully supported East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in gaining independence, thereby weakening Pakistan and breaking its strategic encirclement of India from west and east.
However, despite Bangladesh's independence weakening India's strategic vulnerabilities in the northeast, the Siliguri Corridor remains a critical security constraint.
India has sought to alter this through two strategic approaches:
a northern containment strategy, strengthening control over Bhutan and Nepal to form a buffer zone favorable to India;
and a southern strategy to potentially annex Bangladesh to widen the Siliguri Corridor.
Yet, despite Bangladesh appearing weaker in national strength and terrain to resist India, India did not choose to forcefully annex Bangladesh, opting instead for a more tempered strategy.
Firstly, India aimed to maintain moral high ground, avoiding antagonizing Bangladesh due to potential nationalist backlash that could align it with Pakistan or other anti-Indian forces.
India preferred Bangladesh as an ally through supporting its independence, aiming to jointly counter threats from other directions in the region.
Additionally, Bangladesh's large Muslim population was a deterrent for India due to potential exacerbation of internal religious and ethnic conflicts, threatening domestic stability.
Economically, India was cautious about the heavy burden of integrating an extremely poor country like Bangladesh through military conquest.
Despite potential territorial gains, managing and developing an extremely impoverished nation would outweigh the economic benefits.
Furthermore, India's national security strategy has focused on threats from Pakistan and China in the north and northeast.
Though geographically significant, Bangladesh's weak national power and inclination towards India pose no significant threat to the Siliguri Corridor.
Lastly, forceful annexation of Bangladesh would provoke strong international opposition, a major deterrent for India's actions.
Especially during the Cold War, intervention by major powers like the USA and USSR could have serious consequences for India.
Therefore, to avoid international isolation and sanctions, India ultimately chose a moderate approach in handling its relations with Bangladesh.
In conclusion, despite its ambitions for expansion, India made strategic decisions based on weighing costs and benefits when dealing with Bangladesh.
By supporting Bangladesh's independence and maintaining relatively friendly relations, India preserved regional influence while avoiding the numerous challenges and problems that would come with military expansion.
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