On first formal response, India says Sheikh Hasina’s extradition request by Bangladesh ‘under examination’

New Delhi: India said on Tuesday that Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of the former Bangladesh prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, was “under examination”. This marking the Ministry of External Affairs’ first substantive response to Dhaka’s demand.

The MEA spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, said the matter was being examined, without elaborating further on the timeline or the process involved.

On Bangladesh more broadly, the spokesman said India had ongoing energy cooperation with Dhaka and was examining its capacity and checking fuel availability on its side, in response to a request from Bangladesh for fuel supplies. On water sharing, Jaiswal said India and Bangladesh shared 54 transboundary rivers, and that all water-related discussions would be taken up through the bilateral mechanism.

He said the issues would continue to be addressed through the existing joint river mechanism between the two countries.

Turning to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), the spokesman said India was taking the situation there very seriously, and that its position remained clear, particularly in the context of cross-border terrorism. He said reports indicated that protesters had lost their lives in the unrest and that restrictions had been imposed on essential supplies, adding that the protesters needed international attention and sympathy over the situation.

On Nepal, India has extended an invitation to the Nepal prime minister, Balendra Shah, to visit India. Spokesman added that India and Nepal enjoyed deep-rooted relations and a strong partnership, and that the recent visit of the Indian Army chief to Nepal reflected the strong ties between the two countries, highlighting the close and longstanding relationship between the armed forces of the two nations.

Responding to the United States president, Donald Trump’s, remarks concerning India’s electoral process, Jaiswal said the credibility of India’s Election Commission and its electoral system was a well-established fact globally.

On the earthquake in Indonesia, India expressed deep sadness over the large number of deaths and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. It prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and reaffirmed that it stood with Indonesia, adding that it was ready to provide relief assistance.

The fourth round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable will be held in Singapore, the spokesman said, with the previous round having been held in Delhi. Four Indian ministers – the external affairs minister, the finance minister, a minister of state, and the commerce minister – will participate in the talks, which will focus on advanced manufacturing, healthcare, skills development, and other areas of cooperation. The talks are expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to India’s Viksit Bharat vision, he said.

On the case involving Captain Ajay Pant, a merchant navy officer from Uttarakhand who has been arrested in the UK over an alleged breach of British sanctions on Russian oil shipments, the spokesman said India was in touch with his lawyer and family and was also in contact with the UK foreign office regarding the matter. Pant remains in judicial custody at HMP Winchester.

India participated in Afghanistan’s Victory Day the previous day, with a joint secretary attending the event, Jaiswal said. He added that India shared longstanding relations with Afghanistan, with ties having gained momentum over the past year, and that India had provided development assistance, including medicines and other humanitarian support, and would continue with the same approach going forward.

On allegations levelled by Shahzad Bhatti, at the centre of a Pakistan-based network that Indian agencies say they have dismantled in a coordinated operation across 14 states, the spokesman noted that Pakistan had termed the allegations baseless. He reiterated that the terror module in question was active and had since been busted, and that India had already put forth its position on the matter and stood by it.

Earlier, as reported by RNA Media, the Union home ministry has said the network, which it describes as backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, was linked to reconnaissance of sensitive sites, espionage-related surveillance, and cross-border terror financing – allegations Pakistan has rejected.

The spokesman also said India was engaging with Venezuela to strengthen its energy security, and that it sought to further strengthen its relations and build a stronger partnership with Japan.

On the annual pilgrimage to Pakistan, Jaiswal confirmed that it remained suspended.