US Risks Afghanistan-Like Trap Backing Jamaat in Bangladesh: Opinion

• The US is accused of repeating past blunders by allegedly backing Jamaat in Bangladesh, reminiscent of its debacles in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Libya.
• A leaked conversation purportedly between US embassy counsellor Eric Geelan and a Jamaat leader suggests US involvement in a potential regime-change operation against Sheikh Hasina.
• Motivations for US support for Jamaat may include countering Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, leveraging Jamaat's anti-China stance on Uighurs, and seeking strategic military access in the region.
• The move could also provide the US with leverage against India, a growing subcontinental power, and indirect channels to Pakistan's ISI.
• Critics warn that backing Jamaat could backfire, creating a radicalized Bangladesh, harming the garment industry, and further straining US-India relations.

Why It Matters: US support for Jamaat in Bangladesh risks repeating past foreign policy failures and destabilizing the region.