Pakistan–Bangladesh Visa-Free Accord Sparks New Delhi's Security Concerns

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The agreement between Pakistan and Bangladesh on visa-free entry for diplomatic and official passport holders has raised India's security concerns. After this decision, New Delhi is on alert mode and is keeping a close eye on the changing equations in the region. This important decision was taken in a high-level meeting between Pakistan's Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh's Home Minister Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistani Home Ministry, the two countries have agreed in principle to abolish visa requirement for diplomatic and official passport holders. "Significant progress has been made on visa-free entry for diplomatic and official passport holders. Both countries have given their consent on this matter," the statement said. However, no specific date for the implementation of this visa-free arrangement has been announced yet.

According to reports, the meeting of the two home ministers not only discussed visas but also serious issues like anti-terrorism measures, internal security, police training, drug control and combating human trafficking. To effectively implement these plans, a joint committee will be formed, which will be headed by Pakistan's Home Secretary Khurram Agha.

In addition, the two countries have agreed to start exchange programmes between police academies. In this regard, a high-level delegation from Bangladesh will soon visit Pakistan's National Police Academy in Islamabad. On this occasion, the Bangladesh Home Minister welcomed the Pakistani Home Minister with a guard of honour and described his visit as an "important milestone" for future cooperation.

This growing closeness between Pakistan and Bangladesh is a matter of concern for India. Indian security establishments fear that this visa-free facility can be misused by Pakistani intelligence officials to facilitate their movement.

This concern of New Delhi is even more serious because relations with Pakistan have unexpectedly intensified during the tenure of the new interim government formed after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh. During the reign of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh maintained a certain distance from Pakistan and the activities of Pakistani diplomats were strictly monitored.

Now, the relaxation of visa rules and increased bilateral cooperation is seen by India as a potential factor in regional instability. Officials fear that this could give a boost to groups that have been involved in anti-India activities and which have previously received support from Pakistan. This new development seems to be the beginning of a new chapter in the geopolitics of South Asia, which India is keeping a strategic eye on.