India-US likely to discuss Bangladesh, China at foreign office meeting

New Delhi: When senior US State Department officials meet their Indian counterparts here this week, talks are likely to include the security of minority communities in Bangladesh, the rising activities of Islamists there and China's role in the Indo-Pacific region, according to officials.

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, is set to visit India, Sri Lanka and Nepal between December 3 and 10. In New Delhi, Lu will join Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink to lead US participation in the US-India East Asia Consultations, according to a US State Department release.

The consultations, along with separate meetings with senior Indian officials, will provide an opportunity to exchange perspectives on global and regional issues, the statement said. These talks will be among the last round of talks with the outgoing Joe Biden administration.


India remains extremely concerned with the situation in Bangladesh, where the interim regime appears to have limited control over law and order. An expert on Indo-Bangladesh affairs told ET that while the regime has "indulged in vendetta politics and issued threats to India, it does not appear to have any roadmap to conduct elections for ushering in a democratically elected government".

It is expected that Indian officials will discuss the situation in Bangladesh, where the erstwhile government safeguarded Indian interests.