Pakistan’s hidden move in Bangladesh could hit India next

Something worrying is happening next door in Bangladesh, and it could affect all of us in India. Security experts are tracking plans to create a new armed force called the National Armed Reserve, or NAR, which might include over 8,000 young men who have been taught extreme religious ideas. The goal seems clear: control Bangladesh by imposing strict religious law instead of letting democracy work.

Think of it this way. Imagine your school suddenly decided that instead of elected class leaders, a group of outsiders would choose who runs everything. That's essentially what's being planned for an entire country. Intelligence officials say Pakistan wants to build two separate forces in Bangladesh, one that looks like an army and another that acts like police. They're already identifying people inside Bangladesh who support Pakistan and have radical views, preparing them for important roles in the future.

Behind all this planning stands Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, commonly called ISI, along with the Pakistan Army. They've held several meetings to decide on a strategy and pick leaders for these forces. Right now, many officers in Bangladesh's regular army, including their Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, believe their country should remain democratic. They don't want to be rule by force or extreme religious control.

This is exactly why the ISI is trying to reshape Bangladesh's army by pushing officers loyal to Pakistan into top positions. To manage this effort, they've chosen Brigadier Abdullahil Aman Azmi, who retired from military service. He's considered highly radicalised and happens to be the son of Golam Azam, who was a leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, a radical political party. Indian agencies report that he's been meeting regularly with top Pakistani officials. They believe he'll soon get an important security role in Bangladesh, possibly starting as an advisor in the Home Ministry, which controls internal security.

Officials predict that after Bangladesh holds elections, this advisor position will end, but that's when the real plan kicks in. Azmi would then take charge of the NAR, giving him direct control over this radical armed force. Since Muhammad Yunus took charge of Bangladesh's interim government, several Pakistani diplomats have moved there and now hold regular meetings in Dhaka, the capital. Azmi appears to be the main link between officials in Dhaka and Islamabad, Pakistan's capital.

These meetings happen at the Banani Officers' Housing Scheme, where many Pakistani diplomats live. One particular meeting on December 23 has caught Indian security agencies' attention. It was between Azmi and Mohammad Wasim, Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner. Officials say this wasn't just routine diplomatic talk but planning for something much bigger.

Intelligence reports suggest more meetings between ISI officials and diplomats in Dhaka point to a dangerous plan that could destabilise Bangladesh before their February 2026 elections. While officials believe attempts to disrupt the elections might fail, the bigger goal is more concerning. Pakistan wants Bangladesh to be governed the way Pakistan itself is run, where the army holds real power, not elected leaders.

In Pakistan, there's a government that looks democratically elected, but everyone knows the Pakistan Army, led by General Asim Munir, makes the important decisions, not civilian leaders. Officials say Bangladesh might hold elections mainly to satisfy international pressure, especially from the United States. However, even with a democratically elected government, Pakistan wants real control to stay with the NAR and army officers loyal to them, not with people's elected representatives.

The plan is for NAR to gradually replace the regular police. Meanwhile, Pakistan-loyal people inside Bangladesh's army would control how the country runs, turning it into a puppet state guided by outside influence rather than its own people's will. The ultimate goal appears to be transforming Bangladesh into a fully radicalised state. ISI-backed groups like Jamaat-e-Islami support this vision, which explains their push for NAR. This force would strictly enforce extreme religious rules, controlling how people live, dress, and behave.

For India, this creates serious challenges. Bangladesh shares a long border with us, and what happens there directly affects our security. If radical forces take control next door, it could encourage similar elements in India, create refugee crises if people flee instability, and give Pakistan a strategic advantage by having influence on both our western and eastern borders.

India's options now are limited but crucial. We must strengthen diplomatic ties with democratic forces in Bangladesh, support genuine democratic institutions there, and remain vigilant along our border. We need to expose these plans internationally so the world community pays attention and puts pressure against such interference. Most importantly, we must help Bangladesh's people understand they're being manipulated by outside forces who don't care about their welfare.

The situation is delicate because India must avoid appearing to interfere while actually helping democracy survive in Bangladesh. Our intelligence agencies face tough days ahead, but standing firm for democratic values in our neighbourhood isn't just about Bangladesh—it's about protecting our own democratic future too. What happens in Dhaka today could affect Delhi tomorrow.

The author is a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst