Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has voiced concerns regarding the activities of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Bangladesh. He stated that India is closely monitoring developments in the region and will take necessary measures when required. Reports suggest that the ISI is attempting to re-establish its influence in key areas of Bangladesh, which could pose security risks for India. These regions, including Cox’s Bazar, Ukhia, Teknaf, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Sherpur, were part of East Pakistan before Bangladesh gained independence in 1971. Historically, the Pakistan Army had a presence in these areas and provided support to insurgent groups in India’s northeastern states, such as Nagaland and Mizoram, posing significant security challenges.

In an interview with ANI, General Dwivedi described Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism and emphasized that India is concerned about the possibility of Pakistan using its influence in neighboring countries to facilitate terrorist activities against India. He stated that if individuals from Pakistan relocate to another country and operate near India’s borders, it is a matter of concern, as they should not be allowed to use that territory to target India. According to intelligence reports, the ISI is allegedly collaborating with pro-Islamist and pro-Jamaat factions within the Bangladesh Army. This raises fears of potential infiltration and the use of Bangladeshi soil as a base for training insurgent groups that could threaten India’s security.

General Dwivedi also discussed Pakistan’s broader strategic interests, asserting that its focus is not limited to Kashmir but extends to sustaining an overall anti-India stance. He remarked that Pakistan’s core issue lies with the very idea of India, and its policies are shaped around maintaining hostility towards its neighbor. Dwivedi noted that Pakistan will continue to emphasize the Kashmir issue as part of this agenda. Responding to a question on whether Pakistan has accepted Kashmir as an integral part of India, General Dwivedi used an analogy from the Bollywood movie Guide to describe Pakistan’s rigid stance, comparing it to a man who refused to eat until it rained. Additionally, he referenced Robert Kaplan’s book Revenge of Geography to question whether the two sides of the Indus River could ever be unified, implying that historical and geographical realities make reconciliation unlikely.

Disclaimer: This Image is taken from ANI News.