Growing Ties Between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh Could Impact India’s Security, Says General Anil Chauhan

India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has expressed concerns over the increasing closeness between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, stating that their growing ties could pose a significant threat to India’s security and stability. He made these remarks during an event organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi on Tuesday.

General Chauhan highlighted that economic crises in Indian Ocean region countries are creating opportunities for external powers to expand their influence through debt diplomacy, which he described as dangerous for India. He also noted that frequent government changes and ideological shifts in these countries are presenting new challenges for India.

“The growing alignment of China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, driven by their respective interests, is a major concern for India. Recently, Chinese officials met with counterparts from Pakistan and Bangladesh at a conference, signaling their increasing proximity. This could impact India’s stability and security,” General Chauhan said. The longstanding alliance between China and Pakistan is well-known. However, recent political changes in Bangladesh, including the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her subsequent refuge in India, have strained India-Bangladesh relations. Against this backdrop, the growing ties between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have raised concerns for General Chauhan, who believes this alignment could destabilize the region. When asked about China’s role in the recent India-Pakistan conflict, General Chauhan stated that it is difficult to ascertain the extent and nature of China’s support to Pakistan during the conflict. He noted no unusual activity was observed along India’s northern border during that period. However, he acknowledged that Pakistan sources most of its defense equipment from China, suggesting a likely Chinese presence during conflicts, though the specifics remain unclear.

Referring to India’s Operation Sindoor, which involved missile strikes in Pakistan, Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh, India’s Deputy Chief of Army Staff, claimed last Friday that China not only supported Pakistan during the conflict but also used the brief war as a testing ground for its weaponry. According to Singh, 81% of the weapons used by Pakistan were Chinese-made, and China leveraged the conflict to assess their effectiveness in real combat scenarios.