Pakistan’s notorious spy agency, ISI, is planning to expand its presence in Bangladesh, a worrying development for India that could further deteriorate the already strained India-Bangladesh relations.
India-Bangladesh relations: In a worrying development for India that could further deteriorate the already strained India-Bangladesh relations, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s notorious spy agency, has reared its head in Bangladesh for the first time since the 1971 war, and is planning to expand its presence in the country.
ISI planning to expand presence in Bangladesh
According to reports, ISI has recently become active in Bangladesh, and is attempting to re-establish its presence in the country’s strategic areas, a move which could prove inimical to India’s security interests, especially in the northeastern states.
A four-member ISI delegation headed by the spy agency’s chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, recently visited Bangladesh, during which the two sides discussed the possibility of establishing ISI presence in Cox’s Bazar, Ukhiya, Teknaf, Maulvi Bazar, Habiganj and Sherpur, Economic Times reported.
During the visit, Islamabad’s top spymaster discussed the expansion of ISI’s network on India’s northeastern and eastern borders, with Bangladeshi Army officials, the report said.
Concern for India
ISI’s plans to expand its presence in Bangladesh poses a significant threat to India’s security interests with experts expressing concern over the surge in infiltration of Pakistani forces into Dhaka.
According to various reports, ISI is also working closely with the Islamist and pro-Jamaat faction of the Bangladesh Army, including Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman, Quarter Master General of the Bangladesh Army, and Major General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman, the General Officer Commanding of 24 Division– both officers have been found to have close links with domestic extremists and the ISI.
Notably, the Pakistan Army had a strong military presence in strategic areas of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), prior to the 1971 Bangladesh war of independence which resulted in the formation of Bangladesh. At the time, the Pakistani Army worked to destabilize India by extending support to insurgent groups active in northeastern states like Nagaland and Mizoram.
Reports claim the ISI is focused on re-establishing its operations in bases that could potentially serve as training grounds for insurgent groups based in India.
ISI chief visits Dhaka
The development comes days after top military officials from Pakistan and Bangladesh exchanged reciprocal visits to the each other’s respective countries within a span of less than a week.
A six-member Bangladeshi delegation led by Bangladesh Army’s principal staff officer (PSO) of Armed Forces Division, Lt General SM Kamrul Hassan, embarking on a 4-day visit to Pakistan from January 13-18, where they reportedly met Islamabad’s top military leadership in Rawalpindi, including Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir.
Barely a week later, a delegation of senior officials of the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)– Islamabad’s infamous spy agency– arrived in Dhaka on a four-day visit on January 21.
India-Bangladesh relations
India-Bangladesh relations are at an all-time low after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, coming to the helm in Dhaka.
Widespread communal violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, which has soured Dhaka’s ties with New Delhi, with the latter accusing the Yunus-led interim government of not doing enough, and turning a blind eye to the atrocities perpetrated by radical Islamist elements against the minority Hindu community in the country.
Notably, amid rising tensions in India-Bangladesh relations, Dhaka is reportedly preparing for a direct military confrontation with India, according to a recent intelligence report.
