Bangladesh's Pakistan Pivot: Direct Flights, JF-17 Interest Raise India's Security Concerns

• Bangladesh's new administration under Muhammad Yunus is recalibrating ties with Pakistan, raising security concerns for India's eastern flank.
• Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume direct Dhaka-Karachi flights from January 29, restoring air connectivity after over a decade.
• Bangladesh has expressed "potential interest" in procuring JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, improving defence ties.
• Trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan has significantly increased since 2024, alongside accelerated diplomatic and defence engagement.
• India views Bangladesh's growing bonhomie with Pakistan as a significant concern, fearing a slide into Pakistan's strategic orbit.

Why It Matters: Bangladesh's deepening ties with Pakistan, including defence and flights, pose new geopolitical challenges for India.