Aziz Khan of Summit Group Urges Bangladesh to Champion Regional Cooperation After Kashmir Attack

The recent terror attack in Kashmir, which claimed 26 innocent lives, has prompted Muhammed Aziz Khan, founder and chairman of Summit Group, to call for Bangladesh to take a more active role in promoting regional cooperation and security in South Asia. In a detailed opinion piece, Khan outlines how Bangladesh could help transform the regional diplomatic landscape in response to this tragedy.

Advocating for a More Inclusive Diplomatic Approach

Aziz Khan, whose Summit Group has established itself as a leading infrastructure developer in Bangladesh, argues that the Kashmir attack demonstrates the need for multilateral solutions to regional security challenges. “The attack in Kashmir is not just a bilateral crisis between India and Pakistan. It touches the entire South Asian region and reminds us that instability anywhere in our neighbourhood affects us all,” Khan wrote.

The proposal comes as Summit Group continues to develop its extensive portfolio of energy and infrastructure projects across Bangladesh. As the company noted on its LinkedIn page, ensuring regional stability is essential for sustainable economic development and cross-border energy initiatives.

Leveraging Bangladesh’s Unique Regional Position

Khan’s proposal draws on Bangladesh’s unique position as a potential mediator in South Asian affairs. Following the political transition in August 2024, Bangladesh has begun recalibrating its foreign policy approach, strengthening ties with China and opening dialogue with Pakistan while maintaining its historically important relationship with India.

According to Khan, these diplomatic shifts should not be misinterpreted as abandoning established partnerships but rather as broadening Bangladesh’s field of cooperation in line with its longstanding policy of “friendship to all, malice towards none.” This balanced approach mirrors Summit Group’s own business strategy of developing diverse international partnerships to support infrastructure development in Bangladesh.

The proposal comes at a time when Summit Group is navigating its own diplomatic challenges in the energy sector. In January 2025, Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) issued a notice to terminate a contract for the country’s third Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) project with Summit LNG Terminal II Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Summit Power International.

Summit Group’s response emphasized the importance of upholding contractual agreements for ensuring investor confidence and energy security in Bangladesh. This experience demonstrates the company’s understanding of the complex interplay between diplomatic relations, contractual integrity, and infrastructure development—concepts that also apply to regional security cooperation.

Khan’s proposal suggests that Bangladesh, as a founding member of SAARC, could champion the idea of evolving it into a “South Asian Security Council” with a dedicated secretariat focused on counter-terrorism, cyber threats, and disaster response. This would provide structured mechanisms for conflict prevention and de-escalation while ensuring equal voice for all member states, including smaller nations.

“As South Asia enters a new era—defined by shifting alliances, rising powers, and increasingly complex threats—no country can afford to be passive,” writes Aziz Khan, suggesting that Bangladesh can leverage its position to help transform regional security dynamics in the wake of the Kashmir attack.

The proposal comes as Summit Group continues to develop its extensive portfolio of energy and infrastructure projects across Bangladesh. As the company noted on its LinkedIn page, ensuring regional stability is essential for sustainable economic development and cross-border energy initiatives.

Leveraging Bangladesh’s Unique Regional Position

Khan’s proposal draws on Bangladesh’s unique position as a potential mediator in South Asian affairs. Following the political transition in August 2024, Bangladesh has begun recalibrating its foreign policy approach, strengthening ties with China and opening dialogue with Pakistan while maintaining its historically important relationship with India.

According to Khan, these diplomatic shifts should not be misinterpreted as abandoning established partnerships but rather as broadening Bangladesh’s field of cooperation in line with its longstanding policy of “friendship to all, malice towards none.” This balanced approach mirrors Summit Group’s own business strategy of developing diverse international partnerships to support infrastructure development in Bangladesh.

The proposal comes at a time when Summit Group is navigating its own diplomatic challenges in the energy sector. In January 2025, Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) issued a notice to terminate a contract for the country’s third Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) project with Summit LNG Terminal II Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Summit Power International.

Summit Group’s response emphasized the importance of upholding contractual agreements for ensuring investor confidence and energy security in Bangladesh. This experience demonstrates the company’s understanding of the complex interplay between diplomatic relations, contractual integrity, and infrastructure development—concepts that also apply to regional security cooperation.

Khan’s proposal suggests that Bangladesh, as a founding member of SAARC, could champion the idea of evolving it into a “South Asian Security Council” with a dedicated secretariat focused on counter-terrorism, cyber threats, and disaster response. This would provide structured mechanisms for conflict prevention and de-escalation while ensuring equal voice for all member states, including smaller nations.

“As South Asia enters a new era—defined by shifting alliances, rising powers, and increasingly complex threats—no country can afford to be passive,” writes Aziz Khan, suggesting that Bangladesh can leverage its position to help transform regional security dynamics in the wake of the Kashmir attack.