New Delhi, January 23 (IANS). Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI chief Lieutenant General Asif Malik reached Dhaka on Wednesday. The ISI chief, who arrived in Dhaka from Dubai, was welcomed by Bangladesh Army’s Quartermaster General Lieutenant General Mohammad Faizur Rahman. This is the first visit to Dhaka by any top official of Pakistani intelligence agency in decades.
Many meanings are being inferred from the visit of ISI Chief. Recently, Bangladesh’s high ranking military officer General SM Kamrul Hasan visited Pakistan on January 14. Qamarul had met Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir.
There are speculations that there may be some defense agreement between the two countries. The increasing closeness between Bangladesh and Pakistan is indicating a change in geopolitics. The inclination of the interim government of Bangladesh is clearly visible, which is a cause of concern for India also.
Pakistan has already been involved in terrorist activities on the western border of the country. At the same time, there is a problem of illegal infiltration on the North-East border. However, when Bangladesh was under the ‘Bangladeshi Awami League’ government led by Sheikh Hasina, India did not face much problem regarding illegal infiltration. But after the coup, with the coming of Yunus government, the bitterness in the relations between the two countries is increasing.
Recently, the way India has taken its stand regarding Rohingya infiltration has increased the concern of Bangladesh. The neighboring country was so displeased with India’s blockade that it even summoned India’s ambassador. Bangladesh is calling the steps being taken by India to stop illegal infiltration a violation of the 1975 border agreement.
Amidst such circumstances, the increasing closeness between Pakistan and Bangladesh could be a step taken with the aim of harassing India. Experts believe that the meeting of Asif Malik and Faizur Rehman can promote intelligence activities against India. At the same time, it is also feared that Bangladesh is ignoring India for trade and looking for new options, for which it has increased its talks with Pakistan and China.
Only last week there was a high profile tour from Pakistan to Bangladesh. A delegation of Pakistan’s top trade body Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries had reached Bangladesh. It was also historic because such a trade delegation had gone from Pakistan to Bangladesh for the first time in a decade.
The delegation met the Commerce Minister of Bangladesh. An agreement was also signed between the two countries during this visit and the Pakistani delegation appealed for a free trade agreement with Bangladesh.
–IANS
SCH/KR
