Monday, February 17, 2025

ISI Chief Visits Dhaka Amid Growing Bangladesh-Pakistan Ties

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ISI Chief’s Visit to Bangladesh Raises Alarms for India: A Betrayal of India’s Trust?

The recent visit of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik, to Bangladesh marks a troubling shift in South Asia’s geopolitical landscape. Malik’s meeting with Lt Gen Muhammad Faizur Rahman, a controversial figure in Bangladesh’s army, has set alarm bells ringing in New Delhi.

This growing collaboration between Pakistan and Bangladesh is not just a threat to India’s security but a stark betrayal, given India’s long history of support to Bangladesh during its liberation and afterward.

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Pakistan-Bangladesh Alliance: A New Axis of Threat

For the first time in decades, Pakistan’s ISI has sent its chief to Dhaka, signaling a deliberate effort to strengthen ties between the two countries. Reports indicate that the meeting aimed to establish an intelligence-sharing network. This development is particularly alarming for India, as it coincides with heightened tensions along India’s northeastern border.

Lt Gen Rahman, who welcomed Malik in Dhaka, is known for his pro-Islamist leanings and his alleged complicity in suppressing opposition during Bangladesh’s political turmoil. His association with Pakistan further raises suspicions about the true agenda of this growing partnership.

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Bangladesh’s warming ties with Pakistan have been underscored by several moves, such as easing trade restrictions, re-establishing direct sea links, and announcing joint military exercises. Starting February 2025, Pakistani officials will provide military training to the Bangladesh Army, further cementing this unholy alliance.

A Betrayal of India’s Generosity

This rapprochement between Dhaka and Islamabad comes at a time when India is still grappling with the sacrifices it made for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. India provided military, humanitarian, and economic support during the liberation war, even sheltering millions of Bangladeshi refugees. However, the actions of Bangladesh’s interim government under Muhammad Yunus paint a picture of betrayal.

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Instead of maintaining its historically strong ties with India, Bangladesh is pivoting toward Pakistan. This move is not just ungrateful but a direct affront to India’s goodwill. By aligning with Pakistan, a country known for its state-sponsored terrorism and anti-India propaganda, Bangladesh risks becoming a pawn in Islamabad’s game of destabilizing India.

The Threat to India’s Northeast

The implications of this alliance are most severe for India’s northeastern states. The Siliguri Corridor, a narrow strip connecting India’s northeast to the rest of the country, is particularly vulnerable. Intelligence reports suggest that the ISI’s strategy includes leveraging this geographic chokepoint to infiltrate militants and create unrest.

With Bangladesh serving as a launchpad for Pakistan’s ambitions, India faces an increased risk of cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and insurgencies. The ISI is reportedly working to delay elections in Bangladesh to keep the pro-Islamist interim government in power, further destabilizing the region.

The ISI’s plans to exploit Jamaat-e-Islami cadres and student organizations in Bangladesh to fuel unrest in India highlight the sinister designs of this alliance. These groups have a history of anti-India activities and could become tools for Pakistan’s subversive operations in India’s northeast.

Bangladesh’s Path to Self-Destruction

By aligning itself with Pakistan, Bangladesh is not only jeopardizing its relations with India but also its own stability. The interim government’s closeness to Islamists and its willingness to entertain Pakistan’s overtures signal a dangerous path of destruction.

The long-term consequences for Bangladesh could be dire. Pakistan’s involvement has historically been a destabilizing factor in any region. The same ISI that claims to want intelligence cooperation is the architect of countless terror activities in India and Afghanistan. Bangladesh, by cozying up to such an entity, risks becoming a playground for terrorism and losing its sovereignty to external influences.

India’s Response: Staying Vigilant

India cannot afford to ignore these developments. New Delhi has already ramped up security along its border with Bangladesh, deploying advanced surveillance systems and intensifying inspections by the Border Security Force (BSF). However, more robust measures are needed.

First, India must diplomatically isolate Bangladesh and Pakistan in global forums, exposing their shared agenda of destabilization. Second, India must strengthen its alliances with other regional powers to counterbalance this emerging axis. Lastly, India must bolster its internal security in the northeastern states to ensure that cross-border infiltration and subversive activities are effectively curbed.

A Warning to Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s interim government must understand that aligning with Pakistan is a path to self-destruction. History has shown that Pakistan’s alliances are never based on mutual benefit but on exploitation and ulterior motives.

India’s sacrifices for Bangladesh’s liberation and subsequent support for its growth cannot be ignored. By turning its back on India, Bangladesh is not only betraying its greatest ally but also compromising its own future.

This emerging partnership between Pakistan and Bangladesh is not just a betrayal but a challenge that India must address with urgency and determination. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but India has faced and overcome such threats before—and it will do so again.

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