Recent developments involving the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI) leadership and the Pakistan High Commissioner have raised alarm over the growing geopolitical engagement between Islamabad and radical factions within Bangladesh. This meeting, indicative of a strategic alliance between Pakistan and Jamaat, has the potential to destabilise Bangladesh’s political landscape, undermine its secular identity, and fuel further regional instability. This article explores the underlying factors driving this engagement, the strategic goals of Pakistan, and the profound risks this alliance poses to both Bangladesh and the broader South Asian region.
Pakistan’s Strategic Objectives in Bangladesh
The ongoing diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, particularly through its intelligence agencies, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), reflect a broader and more covert agenda aimed at realigning Bangladesh’s political structure towards a more Pakistan-friendly order. These efforts, which include backing radical Islamist elements such as Jamaat-e-Islami, are designed to achieve several key objectives that serve Pakistan’s geopolitical interests.
Pakistan’s strategy revolves around weakening Bangladesh’s secular government and encouraging a shift towards a political environment more aligned with Islamabad’s interests. Jamaat-e-Islami, with its historical roots in Pakistan’s ideological framework, presents an ideal partner for this cause. By fostering close ties with Jamaat, Pakistan hopes to secure a proxy within Bangladesh’s political system, one that could challenge the current ruling coalition’s secular approach and push for a more Islamist political order.
Additionally, Pakistan seeks to reduce India’s influence in Bangladesh, a region that New Delhi has friendly ties with, both politically and economically. The growing alignment between Bangladesh and India is seen by Pakistan as a direct challenge to its influence in the region. Pakistan, therefore, aims to weaken these bilateral ties through strategic alliances with radical groups, such as Jamaat, that can help stir nationalist and anti-India sentiments within Bangladesh.
Beyond its diplomatic and political objectives, Pakistan is also concerned with regional ideological realignment. By supporting Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan hopes to foster the spread of radical Islamic ideologies throughout South Asia. These ideologies, which often align with Pakistan’s own interpretation of Islam, serve as a counterbalance to Bangladesh’s secular nationalism and as a lever in Pakistan’s broader struggle for influence in the region.
Pakistan’s strategic objectives are further compounded by its historical rivalry with India. The idea of diminishing India’s presence in Bangladesh is not just political, but deeply rooted in Pakistan’s desire to maintain regional supremacy in South Asia. By backing Jamaat-e-Islami and amplifying anti-India rhetoric, Pakistan aims to weaken the growing cooperation between India and Bangladesh, thus disrupting regional stability and potentially isolating Bangladesh from the broader South Asian alliance.
Exploiting Anti-India Sentiment: The Role of Radicalisation
At the heart of Pakistan’s engagement with Jamaat-e-Islami lies the exploitation of anti-India sentiment within Bangladesh. Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have long understood the power of nationalism and religious identity as tools for political mobilisation. In Bangladesh, the growing disillusionment among certain segments of the population with the government’s diplomatic policies, particularly towards India, creates a fertile ground for Pakistan to sow division and radicalise a portion of the population.
By stoking anti-India rhetoric, Pakistan has sought to forge a common ideological ground with Jamaat-e-Islami, a political entity that shares Pakistan’s religious and ideological underpinnings. The rhetoric surrounding issues like the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir has been utilized by Pakistan to inflame negative public sentiment in Bangladesh.
Moreover, Pakistan’s support for Jamaat-e-Islami serves as a vehicle to amplify anti-India sentiments through radicalisation. This is not a mere political alignment; it is a deliberate strategy to destabilise Bangladesh by fostering a more radicalised population. As Jamaat’s influence grows, it becomes a powerful force capable of inciting political unrest, disrupting Bangladesh’s domestic stability, and challenging the government’s pro-India stance.
By leveraging Jamaat’s grassroots reach and organisational structure, Pakistan is able to amplify its anti-India narrative and extend its ideological footprint in Bangladesh. The strategic timing of this narrative, combined with Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement, enables Islamabad to galvanise public opinion and create an environment where Jamaat can thrive as a political force. As the political landscape in Bangladesh becomes more fractured along ideological lines, Pakistan’s involvement with Jamaat may have the effect of deepening divisions within Bangladesh, leading to greater political instability.
Intelligence and Surveillance: Key Sites of Operation
The nature of Pakistan’s engagement with Jamaat-e-Islami raises questions about the covert operations being conducted within Bangladesh. The meeting between the Pakistan High Commissioner and Jamaat leadership took place at Senakunj, Dhaka, a highly secure defense zone that serves as a sensitive site for diplomatic and intelligence activities. This points to the covert nature of the discussions and the significant role that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies are playing in shaping political developments in Bangladesh.
Several locations across Dhaka have been identified as key points of operation for Pakistan-backed activities. The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, located at coordinates 23.7465° N, 90.3854° E, serves as the main hub for Pakistan’s diplomatic and intelligence operations within Bangladesh. It is in this space that covert support for Jamaat and other radical groups is likely being coordinated. The High Commission also functions as a base for the ISI’s activities, including intelligence gathering and support for Pakistan’s broader strategic objectives in Bangladesh.
Beyond the High Commission, several other locations across Dhaka have been linked to Pakistan’s operations. These include a suspected Jamaatsafehouse in Uttara (23.8749° N, 90.3967° E), which is believed to host key meetings and activities related to radicalisation and anti-government operations. The Gulshan area in Dhaka, at coordinates 23.7925° N, 90.4078° E, is another critical site suspected of hosting an ISI operational hub. This commercial property, believed to be tied to Pakistan-backed operatives, likely serves as a logistics and planning center for covert operations aimed at destabilising Bangladesh.
In addition, a secondary meeting spot in Chattogram (22.3569° N, 91.7832° E) has been identified as a potential site for Pakistan’s influence operations through Jamaat-aligned NGOs. These NGOs serve as fronts for the spread of radical ideologies and provide financial support to extremist activities. The locations mentioned above serve as critical nodes in Pakistan’s broader strategy to influence Bangladesh’s political and social fabric, positioning Jamaat as both a political and ideological ally for Islamabad.
The geographical spread of these operations indicates a comprehensive and well-organised effort by Pakistan to establish a covert network within Bangladesh. The presence of multiple sites linked to both Jamaat and Pakistan’s intelligence services highlights the strategic importance of these operations, which are likely to continue influencing Bangladesh’s political and security environment. As Pakistan’s influence continues to expand, the need for vigilant surveillance and counterintelligence efforts becomes all the more urgent to prevent further destabilisation.
The strategic alliance between Pakistan and Jamaat-e-Islami represents a significant threat to Bangladesh’s sovereignty and stability. By leveraging radical ideologies, stoking anti-India sentiment, and fostering a covert network of influence, Pakistan is working to destabilise Bangladesh and challenge its growing alignment with India. The growing influence of Pakistan within Bangladesh has profound implications for regional security, as it threatens to deepen existing political divides, radicalise the population, and foster an environment conducive to political unrest.
In response to this emerging threat, Bangladesh must take decisive action. First, enhancing surveillance and intelligence gathering at critical sites linked to Pakistan’s operations is crucial. Additionally, diplomatic countermeasures must be strengthened to expose Pakistan’s interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, including increasing scrutiny of the Pakistan High Commission and diplomatic personnel.At the domestic level, Bangladesh must also prioritise internal security by bolstering border security, particularly along sensitive zones with India. Public awareness campaigns should be launched to expose the risks of foreign-backed radicalisation and highlight the dangers posed by Pakistan’s covert operations. Finally, political unity must be reinforced to counter the growing influence of radical groups and safeguard Bangladesh’s secular and democratic values.
Without swift and strategic action, Bangladesh risks becoming a proxy battleground in the broader regional struggle between India and Pakistan, with long-term consequences for its national security and stability.
