Secret ISI Delegation in Dhaka: What Does It Mean for India?

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India (Commonwealth Union)_ In a move that is likely to raise alarm in New Delhi, a four-member delegation from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including a two-star general, secretly arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The visit signals a potential shift in military relations between the two South Asian nations, a development that India may find concerning. The delegation was led by Major General Shahid Amir Afsar, the Director General of Analysis at ISI, and also includes officers with significant intelligence and military backgrounds. Afsar has previously served as Pakistan’s defense attaché in Beijing and is seen as a senior figure within the ISI structure. The team’s visit to Bangladesh is scheduled for four days, amid a growing warming of relations between Dhaka and Islamabad.

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This visit follows closely behind a similar trip by a Bangladeshi delegation. From January 13 to 18, a six-member Bangladeshi military team, led by Lt Gen SM Kamrul Hasan, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, visited Pakistan. During their visit, they engaged with senior military leaders in Rawalpindi, including Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir. The high-level meetings between Bangladesh’s and Pakistan’s military leaders have sparked controversy, particularly in India, a country that has historically viewed Pakistan’s military influence in the region with suspicion. Sources familiar with the visit indicate that the ISI delegation’s main objectives include meeting key political and military figures in Dhaka and touring several military facilities. The fact that one of the members of the ISI team shares a name strikingly similar to that of ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik has further fueled speculation in New Delhi, with some believing that Malik himself might be in Dhaka for this covert visit.

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Observers note that while interactions between Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and the ISI had ceased under the previous administration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the relationship appears to be rekindling. Under Hasina’s rule, Bangladesh had distanced itself from Pakistan, particularly after her government took strong actions against those accused of collaborating with Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War. The 1971 war, which led to Bangladesh’s independence, remains a sensitive issue for both countries, with Pakistan’s role in the conflict continuing to strain ties. However, the political landscape in Bangladesh has changed dramatically in recent months. Since the appointment of a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in August 2024, following Hasina’s ouster in a student-led movement, there has been a noticeable shift in the country’s foreign policy. Yunus’s government, which has indicated a more pro-Pakistan stance, has sparked concern in New Delhi about the deteriorating relationship between India and Bangladesh.

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In their visit to Pakistan earlier this month, the Bangladeshi delegation held discussions on regional security dynamics with General Asim Munir. The meetings focused on fostering deeper military ties and strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries. A Pakistani military statement noted that both sides emphasized the importance of a robust defense partnership, with a particular focus on countering external pressures. Many experts interpret this phrase as a veiled reference to India’s influence in the region. Furthermore, the Pakistani military’s public relations department highlighted the importance of both countries working together to enhance peace and stability in South Asia. Munir encouraged collaborative defense initiatives to bolster regional security, which aligns with Pakistan’s broader strategy of improving military relations with Bangladesh.

This emerging shift in military diplomacy comes as India closely monitors the developments. The recent interactions between Bangladesh and Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies raise significant concerns in New Delhi, particularly given the historical context of Pakistani involvement in supporting insurgent groups in India’s northeastern states during the 1990s and early 2000s. With Pakistan’s increased presence in Bangladesh, Indian authorities fear that Dhaka may once again serve as a base for operations that threaten India’s security interests. Furthermore, the arrival of the ISI delegation in Dhaka is a critical development that signals a warming of ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan. While it reflects the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the region, it also serves as a stark reminder to India of the complexities in its relationship with its neighboring countries. As Bangladesh navigates its foreign policy under its new leadership, the future of its relations with both India and Pakistan remains uncertain.

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