India, Aug. 24 -- Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was expected in Delhi for three days from August 23rd. That visit has been postponed. The reasons behind it - and what has filled the vacuum since - say a great deal about where India-Bangladesh ties stand today.

At its core, this is the tragic short-sightedness of an under-confident Dhaka establishment prone to imagining threats that don't exist. It has damaged what was an honest, pragmatic attempt to rebuild ties on a durable, mutually beneficial footing. Ahead of the cancelled visit, a top aide to Rahman signalled openness to a so-called 'Islamic NATO'. At the same time, Dhaka separately demanded India extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for trial. Neither helps rese...