Indian intelligence agencies have raised alarms over a potential new terror front being planned by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), led by Hafiz Saeed, using Bangladesh as a staging ground for infiltration into India. The alert follows a series of recent high-level military and political exchanges between Dhaka and Islamabad that have unsettled New Delhi, suggesting a rapid thaw in relations between the two countries after decades of diplomatic distance since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.
The latest catalyst for India’s concern came with the visit of Pakistan’s Navy Chief, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, to Dhaka on a four-day official trip, followed by the docking of the Pakistani warship PNS Saif at Chattogram port — the first such visit since the 1971 Liberation War. The developments, seen by Indian security analysts as more than symbolic gestures, have coincided with heightened activity by Pakistan-linked extremist figures and organisations in the region.
A viral video circulating from Pakistan’s Khairpur Tamewali shows senior LeT commander Saifullah Saif declaring that “Hafiz Saeed is preparing to attack India through Bangladesh.” Intelligence officials in India believe the statement reflects a genuine attempt by the group to exploit Bangladesh’s geography and political climate to establish an alternative infiltration corridor into eastern India, bypassing heavily guarded western and northern borders.
Adding to the unease, Indian agencies have tracked the movements of Allama Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, a close ally of Hafiz Saeed, who reportedly visited Bangladesh in late October. During his trip, he is believed to have held meetings with radical networks in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, both districts along the India-Bangladesh border. Intelligence briefings suggest that Zaheer urged these groups to recruit local youth and coordinate efforts with Pakistan-based operatives to wage a “joint jihad” against what he called “secular and liberal forces.”
At nearly the same time, Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, arrived in Dhaka with a senior military delegation. His meetings reportedly covered military education, training exchanges, and “defence cooperation opportunities.” Taken together, these visits have sparked speculation that Dhaka may be quietly recalibrating its strategic posture — potentially opening the door to renewed Pakistani influence in South Asia’s eastern flank.
For India, the implications are serious. The Indo-Bangladesh border, stretching over 4,000 kilometres, is among the world’s most porous. Intelligence assessments indicate that if LeT succeeds in establishing a logistical base inside Bangladesh — particularly with local militant support from groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) — infiltration operations into West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya could become far more feasible.
The growing proximity between Pakistan and Bangladesh also revives old sensitivities rooted in history. India’s role in supporting Bangladesh’s liberation struggle in 1971 — from sheltering millions of refugees to fighting the decisive war against Pakistan — forms the foundation of their bilateral relationship. Now, fifty years later, Bangladesh’s renewed engagement with Pakistan raises questions about whether Dhaka is drifting away from those historic ties.
Diplomatic exchanges between Dhaka and Islamabad have quietly intensified in recent months. Talks on restarting trade relations, easing visa restrictions, and expanding defence cooperation are all underway. Pakistan’s outreach, analysts say, fits within its broader strategy to counter India’s regional influence by reviving links with South Asian neighbours once aligned with New Delhi.
For India, the intelligence warnings are clear and pressing. Behind gestures of diplomacy and naval visits, Pakistan may be working to rebuild an operational network through Bangladesh — one that could serve both ideological and military purposes for LeT and other extremist outfits. As one senior intelligence official put it, “The eastern front is no longer a backdoor; it is fast becoming the front line.”
