ISI's Return to Bangladesh Alarms India: Dhaka-Islamabad Axis Threatens Eastern Front

• Pakistan's ISI has reportedly established a dedicated "Dhaka Cell" within its High Commission, staffed by senior military and intelligence officers, raising alarms for India.
• Following Sheikh Hasina's fall in August 2024, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and Shehbaz Sharif's administration rapidly deepened ties, including visa-free access for military personnel.
• High-level military exchanges and new economic links like the Karachi-Chittagong shipping route indicate a rapidly consolidating Dhaka-Islamabad axis.
• Indian intelligence fears ISI's objective is systematic radicalisation, strengthening extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, and creating a "Hybrid Regime" hostile to Indian interests.
• Recent violence in Bangladesh, including attacks on Indian missions, is seen as a "managed" crisis to delay elections, with the Yunus administration accused of inaction.

Why It Matters: Resurgent ISI influence in Bangladesh and a rapidly consolidating Dhaka-Islamabad axis pose a significant threat to India's regional security.