IAS and IPS- Blood Brothers

owes little to India, In the course of the past two years, .the regime in Bangladesh has exhibited a quality of pragmatism which Will increasingly draw it away from the snare of Indian neighbourliness. The programme of the Awami League has all along been marked by a robust opportunism and from the point of view of both economics and politics, Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto now has more to offer than Indira Gandhi, In this circumstance, the Sheikh's thoughts are bound to gravitate increasingly toward Islamabad. Having refused during all these months to set up a bargaining counter vis-a- vis the Sheikh, the government oi India is now left with but little option in Bangladesh. What is more, the continuous harping on the part of the Indian leaders, including Indira Gandhi, that much of their domestic economic difficulties are on account of the Bangladesh war, can only add to the irritation of the people acro-ss the border. And, finally, Farakka has already begun to cast its shadow.