In recent months, political instability has rapidly intensified in Pakistan, Bangladesh and The Maldives. The instability is undoubtedly because of the growing influence of fundamentalist forces and infiltration of Jihadis into the armies’ ranks. As a matter fact, religious fanatics don’t want neighbouring countries, friendly with India to be governed by democratically elected governments. The emergence of hardline Islam in the neighbouring countries is stoking concern in India as New Delhi has strategic and diplomatic relations with their governments. The developments taking place in the region are indeed, worrisome and against the interests of India.
An attempt to throw out the democratically elected government was reported in Pakistan. The plot was revealed by Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani in the National Assembly, saying that “conspiracies are being hatched to pack up the elected government” and that the military “cannot be a state within a state. No doubt, rumours of a coup have been building for months, ever since speculations were rife that the government had sought American support against the military following the killing of former Taliban leader Osama bin Laden.
The relationship between the civilian government and the military in Pakistan has historically been antagonistic and based on mistrust, and such strife was on display in late 2011 and into 2012.  Many observers concluded that the military wanted to oust the governing coalition of Prime Minister Gilani and President Zardari, but rather than stage a coup, it attempted to use legal channels to force them out of office. First, shortly after Osama bin Laden was killed, the US received an anonymous memo from a Pakistani source, reportedly an ally of the government, asking for U.S. help in cutting down the military’s influence and to discourage it from attempting a coup.
After Pakistan, a failed plot to oust the government came to the fore in Bangladesh. Army spokesman Brigadier General Muhammad Masud Razzaq said that an attempt by some mid-ranking army officers to topple the Sheikh Hasina government was foiled by it.
Much to the distress of Indian leaders, on January 19 the Bangladesh army announced it had thwarted a coup attempt against the government, conceived and nearly executed by some mid-ranking officers. Five army officers, including a lieutenant colonel and two Majors have already been arrested, while a top army officer is under investigation. The attempted coup was instigated by Islamic radical military personnel, including some Bangladeshis living abroad and retired and serving officers.
Another coup-like situation has emerged in The Maldives where the first democratically elected President was forced to resign after the police forces revolted. The attempt was linked to the Hizb-ut Tahrir, an international Islamist group. The protests, and scrambling for positions ahead of next year’s presidential election, have seen parties adopting hardline Islamist rhetoric and accusing Mr Nasheed of   anti-Islamism.
A group of Islamist organisations organised a rally in December in Male, the capital, which was attended by thousands of people protesting against Mr. Nasheed for failing to defend Quranic law and calling for a ban on spas and liquor parlours catering to foreign tourists. The recent unrest had also seen demonstrations by Islamic fundamentalists against the government, particularly over the transport ministry’s decision to allow direct flights from Israel.
Ironically, in all the three  coup attempts there was found  an alleged connection between  army officials and the Islamic militant outfits operating under different names.
There are no two opinions that the political climate in Pakistan is on the brink of disaster. No country, including India, can afford to simply wait and watch its nuclear weaponry fall into the hands of several terrorist groups freely operating within its borders. Bangladesh may have foiled a coup by army officers aligned with the fundamentalist outfit Hizb ut Tahrir, but India must also convey its concern about the entrenched presence of men and officers with radical religious views in its armed forces.
The fact remains that Jamaat-e-Islami (as part of the BNP government) has made considerable inroads into its civil and military institutions between 2001 and 2006. Besides, fundamentalist outfits like the Hizb ut Tahrir are believed to have infiltrated even colleges and universities. It is also true that some of the terrorist attacks carried out in India had the footprints of these terrorist outfits and were guided by the Bangladeshi military officials.
The developments in Pakistan, Bangladesh and The Maldives demand India’s immediate intervention and opening of negotiations with the respective governments as the nexus between Islamists and army officials was a concern for the stability and peace in the region.  And if need arises India shouldn’t avoid any military action.