India is leading the world on many fronts. From providing vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic to airlifting relief material to far-off countries during natural calamities, India has provided technical expertise and built many projects under the hostile conditions of Afghanistan. Many projects are being conceived, financed, and implemented in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. All neighbouring countries have benefitted from the benevolence of India, which has always acted as a big brother to these countries, ready to provide technical expertise and financial assistance. It is also true that the other superpower in Asia, China, has proved to be a non-reliable neighbour that traps small countries and provides them loans as they get entangled in a web of ever-increasing debt, and the net result is the collapse of countries. The practical cases of the Hambantota International Port of Sri Lanka, which is leased to China, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a 3000 km Chinese infrastructure network project undertaken in Pakistan, are practical examples. Both countries gained nothing but have economically collapsed. Bangladesh has played wisely, and for the last many years, it has greatly benefited from its friendship with India. Water agreements, border agreements, power projects, hosiery and cotton industries, and now the latest addition is the petroleum pipeline. India will be providing high-speed diesel to seven districts in Bangladesh. India enjoys the development of its neighbouring countries and always fulfils its obligation as a good neighbour. In reciprocation, it has never tried to hoodwink or pressurise its neighbour for undue favours. All these diplomatic and backdoor efforts are paying off now, as neighbouring countries are trusting India like never before and the bonds of friendship are getting stronger. It is in the interest of all these countries, including India, to live in peace and harmony.
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