NEW DELHI, Jul 11 (Alliance News): India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has cautioned against a potential convergence of strategic interests between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, warning that such an alignment could pose a serious threat to India’s internal stability and regional security dynamics.
Speaking at a policy dialogue hosted by the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, General Chauhan stated, “There is a possible convergence of interest between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh that may have implications for India’s stability and security dynamics.”
His comments come amid diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh following the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year, who has since sought refuge in India.
Highlighting India’s growing concerns about shifting power dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), General Chauhan said, “The region’s economic vulnerabilities have allowed outside actors to expand their influence through debt diplomacy, creating strategic vulnerabilities for India.”
He further pointed out that frequent government changes in South Asia often bring about ideological shifts that complicate India’s regional security posture.
Commenting on the recent India-Pakistan military conflict in May — the worst in decades — General Chauhan acknowledged for the first time that India had lost an unspecified number of fighter jets.
His admission marks the highest-level acknowledgment of losses during the four-day conflict that began after an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which India blamed on Pakistan — a charge Islamabad has categorically denied.
During the hostilities, Pakistan reportedly downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and neutralized several surveillance drones.
The conflict, which saw exchanges of missile, drone, and artillery fire, was brought to a halt after 87 hours with a ceasefire brokered by the United States on May 10.
On China’s role, General Chauhan stated that it remained unclear to what extent Beijing had supported Islamabad during “Operation Sindoor” but confirmed that “no unusual activity was observed along India’s northern borders during the conflict.”
His remarks echo recent claims by Indian Army Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Rahul Singh, who alleged that China had provided Pakistan with “live inputs” about Indian troop movements and positions during the May clashes.
The evolving regional alignments and military tensions have raised concerns in New Delhi about a broader strategic axis forming between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, especially in light of changing leadership in Dhaka and growing Chinese economic influence across South Asia.
