Silent moves from Dhaka to Islamabad, should India be worried about Pakistan-Bangladesh’s secret defense deal?

The movement seen in the last few months in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is not only diplomatic but also strategic. Frequent visits to Dhaka by Pakistan’s top defense officials – from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to Navy Chief and ISI Chief Lieutenant General Asim Malik till. This is an indication that relations between Islamabad and Dhaka have reached a new turning point. All this is happening at a time when, under the leadership of Mohammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s foreign policy seems to be gradually moving away from Delhi and towards Islamabad.

Read now on WhatsApp also, click to subscribe

Amidst the increasing tension with India, the discussion of a possible defense agreement between Pakistan and Bangladesh has intensified. It is being told that this agreement can be based on NATO-style i.e. “attack one, attack both” model. Exactly what Pakistan did with Saudi Arabia recently. If this deal happens, then for the first time since 1971, a formal military alliance will be formed between the two countries, which is also an irony of history.

Pakistan’s new strategy inspired by Saudi model

The strategic defense agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September had created a stir in regional politics. The most famous line of this agreement was “An attack on one country will be considered an attack on both.” In Pakistan it was seen as a strategic deterrence against India. Now Islamabad wants to repeat this model with Bangladesh.

Defense agreement script ready in Dhaka

According to media reports, Pakistan and Bangladesh have also formed a joint mechanism to draft the proposed defense agreement. If this deal is signed, it will open the way for intelligence sharing, joint military exercises and security cooperation between the two countries. However, it is not yet clear whether nuclear cooperation will also be included in this agreement or not. If this happens, it could become a serious security concern for India – especially on the eastern front.

Pakistan’s haste on deal before elections

Elections are to be held in Bangladesh after two months and Pakistan wants this agreement to be finalized before that. The current political instability and increased anti-India sentiment after the recent assassination of hardline leader Sharif Usman Hadi has given an opportunity to Pakistan. On Tuesday, a leader of Pakistan’s ruling party in an open forum demanded a formal military alliance between the two countries. Pakistan Muslim League leader Kamran Saeed Usmani said that ‘If India attacks Bangladesh, Pakistan will stand with Dhaka with full force… He who controls the ports and the seas rules the world.’ He claimed that the Pakistan-Bangladesh military partnership would completely change the regional balance of power.

India’s concern and silence

At present, the Government of India has not given any official statement on this entire incident, but quoting sources it is being said that New Delhi is keeping a close watch on the situation. If this defense agreement extends to nuclear cooperation, it can become a big challenge for India’s eastern border.

Bangladesh politics and Pakistan’s bet

Meanwhile, the internal politics of Bangladesh is also playing an important role. After Awami League’s exit from the elections, India is eyeing Bangladesh National Party (BNP), which is considered closer to Delhi than Jamaat-e-Islami. According to reports, if BNP comes to power, this defense agreement may get stuck. This is why Pakistan wants to finalize this deal under the current Yunus administration – a government which has given priority to distance from India and proximity to Islamabad.