Pakistan's ISI aims to establish a presence in strategic areas of Bangladesh, potentially threatening India's security. Discussions during ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik's visit to Dhaka included Cox's Bazar, Ukhia, Teknaf, and others. ISI is collabo...
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is seeking to establish its presence in some strategic areas of Bangladesh, a move that could be detrimental to India's security interests.
ET has learnt that the two sides discussed the possibility of ISI's presence in Cox's Bazar, Ukhia, Teknaf, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sherpur during ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik's visit to Dhaka last week.
Before the formation of Bangladesh in 1971, the Pakistan army had presence in these strategic areas, which were then part of East Pakistan. This created challenges for India as the Pakistan army gave support to insurgent groups active in northeastern states like Nagaland and Mizoram.
The recent Bangladesh visit of ISI's top brass witnessed exploratory talks with the amenable section of Bangladesh army on expanding ISI's network along India's northeast and eastern borders.
Experts on Bangladesh affairs are alarmed over the rapid inroads by the Pakistan army in Dhaka.
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ISI is allegedly coordinating its moves with the pro-Islamist and pro-Jamaat faction of Bangladesh army. Besides Lt Gen Faizur Rahman, quarter master general of Bangladesh Army, the general officer commanding of 24 Division of Bangladesh army, Maj Gen Mir Mushfique Rahman, is known to harbour close connections with the homegrown radicals and ISI.
