India Warned: Bangladesh Risks Sliding into Pakistan's Orbit, Threatening Eastern Flank

• Former diplomat Veena Sikri warns Bangladesh is sliding into Pakistan's strategic orbit, posing serious security challenges for India's eastern flank and North-East.
• Sikri alleges Pakistan aims to regain pre-1971 control over Bangladesh, using ISI involvement and enabling Jamaat-e-Islami's influence in Dhaka.
• Concerns raised over Pakistan's growing footprint in Bangladesh's military, security institutions, and removal of visa/trade restrictions.
• Pakistan-backed terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are reportedly re-emerging in Bangladesh, with warnings of attacks from the East.
• Sikri stresses that an unstable Bangladesh due to political exclusion and lack of credible elections is detrimental for both India and Bangladesh.

Why It Matters: Unstable Bangladesh, influenced by Pakistan and extremists, poses significant security risks to India's eastern borders.