Indian security and intelligence agencies are closely monitoring a fresh round of military engagement between Bangladesh and Pakistan, amid concerns that Dhaka’s deepening defence cooperation with Islamabad and Beijing could alter regional security dynamics.
On August 16, a ten-member team of senior Bangladeshi Army officers, led by Quarter Master General Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman, departed for Islamabad. The delegation includes Brigadier General Kazi ASM Shahriar Pervez, Brigadier General Mohammad Abdul Aziz, and several other senior officers.
Documents indicate that the visit was arranged at the invitation of the Pakistan High Commission’s Defence Wing in Dhaka on August 8. The team is scheduled to return on August 24.
Indian intelligence sources say the timing of the visit is particularly significant, coming just days before Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman travels to Beijing from August 22 to 25 at the initiative of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Pattern of growing defence engagements
This is not the first high-level interaction between the two armies this year. In January, a Bangladeshi delegation led by Lt Gen Kamrul Hassan met Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir in Islamabad. Soon after, a three-member Pakistan ISI team headed by a Major General visited Dhaka.
Indian agencies believe the August 16 visit marks a continuation of this trend, with both sides aiming to push defence ties to what officials describe as “new heights.”
The Bangladeshi officers are scheduled to tour Pakistan Army’s ordnance factories and sensitive establishments where air defence systems, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), and missile systems are developed and stockpiled. They will also visit facilities specialising in the maintenance and overhaul of MI-series helicopters.
The stated objectives include gaining first-hand experience of advanced defence technologies, evaluating UAV systems for long-range tactical missions, and exploring joint innovations. Sources say discussions may also include technology exchange that could provide “strategic heft” to Bangladesh’s armed forces.
India’s concerns over strategic shifts
Indian security officials are concerned that the rapid expansion of Bangladesh’s defence cooperation with Pakistan—coupled with growing military ties with China and Turkey—could lead to a strategic realignment in the neighbourhood.
“The developments warrant close scrutiny. Bangladesh’s outreach to Pakistan’s military-industrial complex, especially in areas like UAVs and missile systems, has direct security implications for India,” said a senior Indian intelligence officer.
Officials also note that these exchanges come at a sensitive time, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit Kolkata on August 22 to inaugurate three metro services, just 100 km from the Bangladesh border. Security agencies have already been placed on the highest alert.
Interim regime driving military expansion
Since the Mohammad Yunus-led interim regime assumed office on August 8, 2024, Bangladesh’s armed forces have accelerated efforts to expand capabilities. The government has been actively pursuing defence cooperation not just with Pakistan and China, but also with Turkey and the United States.
For India, analysts say, the challenge lies in balancing diplomatic ties with Dhaka while ensuring that these new military linkages do not undermine New Delhi’s security calculus in the eastern theatre.
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