US-Jamaat Ties Spark India's Pakistan-Linked Security Fears in Bangladesh

• US outreach to Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami raises alarms in South Asia, seen as a dangerous miscalculation that could destabilize the region.
• Analysts warn that US engagement risks sidelining mainstream parties like BNP, imperiling minorities, and opening India's eastern flank to Pakistani interference.
• The Washington Post reported US diplomats met Jamaat leaders in Sylhet, with a leaked audio revealing a 'shifted Islamic' Bangladesh and a desire for friendship.
• A US diplomat dismissed concerns about Jamaat's sharia imposition and trivialized threats to minorities, despite acknowledging Sheikh Hasina's unfair trial.
• Post-Hasina ouster, interim head Muhammad Yunus's regime saw Islamist mob attacks, strained India ties, and a potential rise of Jamaat, posing security risks for India and potential Chinese exploitation.

Why It Matters: US engagement with Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh raises significant security concerns for India due to Pakistan links.