In a significant diplomatic move, Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed in principle to allow visa-free Agreement travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports. This development, first reported by Pakistani media, marks a major step toward improving bilateral relations between the two nations. However, the lack of a specified date for the implementation of this new system has left many questions unanswered.
Why is India alarmed by this Visa-Free agreement?
The visa-free arrangement has raised serious security concerns in India, particularly regarding the ease of movement for Pakistani intelligence officials, including those from the ISI (PakistanтАЩs primary intelligence agency). Historically, Bangladesh under Sheikh HasinaтАЩs leadership maintained a cautious distance from Pakistan and imposed strict surveillance on its diplomats. However, the recent thaw in relations between the two countries has unsettled Indian authorities.
The timing of this agreement is especially noteworthy. The interim government in Bangladesh, which took charge after Sheikh HasinaтАЩs departure, has moved swiftly to mend ties with Pakistan. This shift contrasts sharply with the previous administrationтАЩs stance, which sought to limit Pakistani influence in the region.
Could this agreement destabilize the region?
Indian security experts fear that the visa-free agreement policy might embolden anti-India groups operating in Bangladesh. With fewer restrictions on travel, Pakistan could potentially exploit this new openness to expand its intelligence or militant networks. The absence of stringent checks could make it easier for hostile actors to infiltrate Bangladesh, a country that shares a porous border with India.
The strategic implications of this agreement are not lost on New Delhi. Bangladesh is a key ally in South Asia, and any shift in its foreign policy can have ripple effects across the region. IndiaтАЩs concerns stem from the possibility that closer ties between Dhaka and Islamabad might undermine its own geopolitical interests.
How might this affect India-Bangladesh relations?
The visa-free deal has already cast a shadow over IndiaтАЩs relationship with Bangladesh. While Delhi has long viewed Dhaka as a trusted partner, the latterтАЩs overtures to Pakistan could strain this dynamic. India has invested heavily in BangladeshтАЩs infrastructure and development, and any tilt toward Pakistan might prompt a reassessment of these commitments.The broader question is whether Bangladesh is recalibrating its foreign policy to balance ties between India and Pakistan. If so, this could signal a more complex and unpredictable geopolitical landscape in South Asia.
For now, India remains watchful, aware that the visa-free agreement is more than just a travel policyтАФitтАЩs a potential game-changer in regional diplomacy.
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