What the revival of Bangladesh-Pakistan ties means for India

The military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May has sharpened New Delhi’s anxieties about its neighborhood. Understandably, strategic experts have been preoccupied with the tightening China-Pakistan nexus, which presents the most direct and immediate threat to India.

But in the process, an equally consequential development is at risk of being overlooked: the revival of Bangladesh’s relationship with Pakistan, a nation from which it had waged a bloody independence struggle. What began as tentative outreach late in 2024 has, in less than a year, developed into a serious political, economic, and now military partnership. If sustained, this rapprochement could create new and enduring vulnerabilities for India’s national security.

The political shift in Dhaka in August 2024 marked a decisive break from the past. Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League had for 15 years cultivated close ties with India, aligning Bangladesh’s policies with New Delhi’s regional and security concerns. Hasina’s exile in India following the mass protests that toppled her regime soured relations.

The interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has consciously recalibrated foreign policy, reaching out to previously estranged partners. Pakistan has been the most enthusiastic suitor, moving quickly to seize the opportunity that Hasina’s departure created.

India must accept part of the blame for this drift....

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