A senior leader from Pakistan's ruling party has stirred diplomatic tensions by threatening military support for Bangladesh, including the potential use of missiles, if India infringes upon Dhaka’s sovereignty. Kamran Saeed Usmani, head of the youth wing of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), warned that Pakistan's forces are “not far away” and ready to fully support Bangladesh.

In a widely circulated video, Usmani voiced solidarity with Bangladesh against what he described as Indian aggression, citing fears of New Delhi’s expansionist “Akhand Bharat” ambitions. He pointed to ongoing water disputes and alleged interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Usmani stated, “If Delhi attacks Dhaka, our army, people, and missiles will stand with full force,” even hinting at possible mutual military basing between Islamabad and Dhaka to counter India.

These remarks come amid political instability in Bangladesh under interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who has sought closer ties with Pakistan through trade and youth initiatives. Reflecting Usmani’s stance, Bangladesh National Citizen Party’s Hasnat Abdullah warned that India could face retaliation if it supports anti-Bangladesh elements from its northeastern states. The exchanges risk intensifying border tensions and disputes over rivers such as the Teesta, echoing past regional flashpoints after 1971.

India’s External Affairs Ministry dismissed the threats as baseless propaganda from “extremist elements” and called for fact-based investigations into unrest in Bangladesh. Officials see Pakistan’s rhetoric as an attempt to deflect domestic economic pressures while courting Bangladesh for strategic purposes, reminiscent of prior overtures that failed after the 1971 war.

Analysts warn that such provocative statements could destabilize South Asia, potentially inviting Chinese influence and complicating multilateral negotiations. While past threats have rarely escalated into direct conflict, they undermine regional trust and heighten public anxieties in an already fragile neighborhood.