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Intelligence sources say India’s concerns are particularly related to three fronts — India-Pakistan Border, India-Bangladesh Border and India-China Border
Bangladesh is hosting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar. (News18)
Pakistan and Bangladesh are reshaping and redrawing their relationships after the fall of Sheikh Haseena regime last year, raising eyebrows from the Indian defence and security establishment.
“India sees the closeness between the two countries with serious concern,” said intelligence sources.
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Bangladesh-Pakistan ties
Bangladesh is hosting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar and the trade envoy. Dar met Bangladeshi top officials including his counterpart, political delegates, including those from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which opposed the breakup of Pakistan to establish Bangladesh in 1971.
Bangladesh army’s Quarter Master General Lieutenant General Md Faizur Rahman was in Pakistan this week in a bid to reset civil-military ties after the 1971 war.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s deputy leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher met Pakistan’s Deputy PM In Dhaka to further enhance relations with the brotherly Muslim state in the coming days and how to make the regional alliance for more active and stronger cooperation. Dar also met leaders of the newly formed National Citizen Party which led last year’s uprising, as well as the leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
On Friday, Rahman met with General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), in Rawalpindi. Both the militaries vow to enhance defense and security cooperation in the region. A day earlier, Pakistani Trade and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan held talks in Dhaka, where he agreed to set up joint commissions to boost trade and investment.
A post on X from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Office of the Spokesperson) said: “Following delegation level talks in Dhaka today, the DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50 and Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh oversaw signing of six instruments between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Their list includes Agreement between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Visa Abolition for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders, MoU on Joint Working Group on Trade, MoU between Foreign Service Academies of Pakistans and Bangladesh, MoU between Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, MoU between Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, and Cultural Exchange Programme. These Agreements will institutionalise and further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in trade and economics, training of diplomats, academic exchanges, media cooperation and cultural exchanges.”
What are India’s concerns?
After the 1971 Independence War, Bangladesh leaned heavily on India, which almost encircles the country of 170 million people. Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus has demanded that India hand back Hasina, who continues to refuse to attend her trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity
Dhaka accused India this month of backing Hasina’s now-outlawed Awami League party, charges that India rejected, saying it “does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out” from its soil.
There are widespread speculation found in the Pakistan and Indian defence circles, related to the ties between China, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Sources say India’s concerns are particularly related to three fronts — India-Pakistan Border, India-Bangladesh Border and India-China Border.
India has to face Jihadis on two fronts on Pakistan and Bangladesh sides as Pakistan and China are supporting anti-India Jamaal-e-Islami and Bangladesh National Party.
The growing Chinese and Pakistani influence in Bangladesh has also put an additional burden on the Indian defence forces, which are now stretched across the Indian Ocean, Bay Of Bengal and Arabian Sea including all three major borders including line of control (LoC) and line of actual control.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
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