Pakistan-Bangladesh Visa-Free Deal for Diplomats Raises India’s Security Concerns as Regional Equations Shift

Bangladesh(The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed in principle to grant visa-free entry to diplomatic and official passport holders, a development that has put New Delhi on high alert amid fears of shifting regional alliances. The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, where both sides also discussed counter-terrorism, internal security, police training, drug control, and human trafficking, with plans to set up a joint committee led by Pakistan’s Home Secretary Khurram Agha.

The two countries also agreed to launch exchange programs between their police academies, with a Bangladeshi delegation set to visit Pakistan’s National Police Academy in Islamabad soon. While the visa-free arrangement’s implementation date remains unclear, Indian security agencies fear it could be misused by Pakistani intelligence operatives to expand their presence in Dhaka and beyond.

This growing proximity comes after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, which had maintained a cautious distance from Islamabad and tightly monitored Pakistani diplomats. Now, with relaxed visa norms and enhanced bilateral cooperation, India sees potential risks of revived anti-India networks operating under the guise of diplomatic ties, marking a significant shift in South Asia’s geopolitical landscape.