Bangladesh Leader Threatens to 'Cut Off India's Seven Sisters,' Reviving Old Fears

• Hasnat Abdullah of Bangladesh's National Citizen Party threatened to shelter anti-India forces to sever India's northeastern states, known as the "seven sisters," from the mainland.
• This revives concerns from the late 1990s and early 2000s when Bangladesh was a sanctuary and logistics hub for Northeast Indian separatist groups like NLFT and ATTF.
• The situation improved significantly under Sheikh Hasina's government, which cracked down on anti-India insurgents and enhanced bilateral security cooperation.
• Abdullah's remarks coincide with a perceived strategic shift under interim leader Muhammad Yunus, accused of aligning Bangladesh with China and Pakistan and hardening positions against India.
• India views these threats as part of a broader pattern of escalating hostility, raising anxieties about regional security implications.

Why It Matters: Bangladesh leader's threat revives fears of Dhaka aiding insurgents, signaling a hostile shift.