Online Desk  :   Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi referred to Bangladesh as a “strategic neighbor” today, and said that any kind of animosity between the countries is not in the interest of either nation. He made the remarks while addressing a press conference at the Army Headquarters in South Block on Monday. “I will take you back to the comment made by the Bangladesh Army Chief recently—that India is strategically important to Bangladesh, and the same is true vice versa. We are neighbours; we have to live together and understand each other. Any kind of animosity is not in each other’s interest,” he said.

He made the statement when the Indian foreign ministry on Monday summoned Bangladeshi Deputy High Commissioner Nurul Islam, a day after Dhaka summoned the top Indian diplomat to express concerns over India’s border fence construction activities violating agreement, ANI reported. The Indian Army Chief assured, however, that the situation along the border remains stable. “As of today, there is no vulnerability from any side. I was in touch with the Chief of Bangladesh even when this changeover took place. In November, we had a video conference also,” he said.

General Dwivedi also highlighted ongoing military cooperation. “As far as military cooperation is concerned, it is going up in the same way. Our officers have moved there for the NDC (Bangladesh’s National Defence College) also,” he said. “However, joint exercises have been temporarily postponed due to the current situation. As the situation improves, these exercises will resume,” he added.  He described the current military relationship between India and Bangladesh as “well and perfect”. It is to note that India-Bangladesh relations have soured since Prime Minister Hasina fled to New Delhi on August 5, following a weeks-long student-led protest against her growing authoritarian rule.