A lot is going into re-thinking Bharat’s strategy, especially in the northeastern states, with the Pakistan Army set to make an official entry into the crisis-torn Bangladesh.
For the first time since 1971, the Pakistan Army has reached an arrangement with Bangladesh to train its army starting February 2025. While the Indian Army is perfectly capable of tackling any aggression from Bangladesh irrespective of who is training them, the worry is the radicalisation that would take place in the army ranks in the country.
The agreement
The Pakistan Army would start training soldiers of the Bangladesh army from February 2025 onwards. It has agreed to train four cantonments of the Bangladesh army, and this would begin with the Mymensingh cantonment, which houses the doctrine and training command headquarters. Starting February 2025, officers of the Major General rank would visit Bangladesh and train the soldiers.
Pakistan grabbed the opportunity after the Muhammad Yunus regime decided to improve ties with Islamabad. Yunus has made several decisions that have been entirely in favour of Pakistan in the last couple of months. Dhaka decided to open up the sea route from Pakistan, and this would mean that ships would enter the country without any proper checks.
Further, Yunus also eased Pakistanis’ visa regime and said that those coming into Bangladesh would not need prior checks. This is a nightmare since Pakistan will use both the decision to send in terrorists and arms and ammunition through legal channels that would not come under any scrutiny by Bangladesh.
The proposal to train the Bangladesh army was made by Pakistan’s Chief of Staff Committee chairman, General S Samshad Mirza. The training programme would last for a year, the agreement said.
What is the real worry
Bangladesh watchers tell the Organiser that the worry is not the training. India can easily handle any aggression both from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Indian Army had given Pakistan a bloody nose during the Liberation War, and hence, this training programme does not concern New Delhi.
However, the real worry is that the Pakistan Army is not going to Bangladesh to train the Bangladeshis. The real intention is to radicalise the soldiers. The main focus would be the indoctrination of the Bangladeshi soldiers with an anti-Bharat agenda.
For several years, the Indian and Bangladesh army have shared close ties. Several times, both armies have worked together on various issues, such as infiltration and cattle smuggling, to counter the fake currency menace. Both countries have also carried out joint exercises, and the Bangladesh army, for the most part since independence, has scarred a good relationship with the Indian Army.
Following the Liberation War, it took several years to dilute the pro-Pakistan thought process which was present in the Bangladesh army. The entire scenario took some time to change, and once the Awami League came to power, it inducted soldiers and officers who were born in Bangladesh. All these persons were trained to be loyal to the country and also share good ties with Bharat. All this would change in the next year with the entry of the Pakistan Army entering the scene.
Currently, many within Bangladesh are being targeted and harassed since they are perceived to be close to Sheikh Hasina. Scores of cases are being filed against them in a bid to silence them. The Yunus regime is trying to put up an army which is entirely anti-Bharat and pro-Pakistan.
The challenge for Bharat
While Bangladesh will not venture into any adventure and get into a war with Bharat, it would still pose a security risk. The Bangladesh army would stop cooperating with the Indian Army, and it would be challenging to man the border where the infiltration rate is usually very high.
The fact that the Bangladesh regime wants to infiltrate as many Muslims as possible to change the demographics in India and execute land jihad is no secret. A completely radicalised Bangladesh army would only help the Yunus regime further this cause. This would make the northeastern states very vulnerable and would pose a massive security risk. New Delhi is currently reworking its strategy for the border to counter this threat.
Last Friday, the second ship from Pakistan entered the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh. The ship was loaded with explosives, and the same had been unearthed by the authorities in Bangladesh. There has been no concrete action taken, and the authorities there say that they are ascertaining the motive. Pakistan would continue to use the sea route to push in arms and ammunition, and the Bangladesh army would aid them in pushing into the northeastern states.
Yunus creating Pakistan 2.0
Prior to Yunus taking over, Bangladesh had gone from being one of the poorest countries to the fastest-growing economy. Bharat enjoyed a favourable trade balance with Bangladesh. As of September 2024, India had exported $861 million and exported $260 million from Bangladesh, thus resulting in a positive trade balance.
However, that is gradually changing with an anti-Bharat tirade being launched in Bangladesh. Many traders do not want to do business with Bangladesh and, due to the fear of being persecuted, are gradually pulling out.
Instead of capitalising on the positive trade ties, Yunus moved closer to Pakistan, which is probably one of the worst economies in the world. Ironically, Yunus had bagged the Nobel Prize for his work to create economic and social development. With Yunus wanting to do business with Islamabad it is a clear sign that his country is turning into another Pakistan. Bangladesh will soon face economic turmoil and will be governed by the radical mullahs. All Pakistan would eventually do is teach Bangladesh how to become another terrorist state.
