Counter-terrorism talks in India, high-level security engagements in Pakistan: Dhaka's contradictory signals raise regional concerns

DHAKA: Major General Abu Mohammed Sarwar Farid, chief of Bangladesh's National Security Intelligence (NSI), travelled to Pakistan 12 days after returning from a visit to India. According to media reports, he departed for Islamabad aboard an Emirates flight on November 9.

The report, citing senior officials in Bangladesh's security establishment, said Farid boarded flight EK-587 at 8.27 pm. He is reportedly on a two-day visit to Pakistan, during which he is expected to meet officials from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other security agencies. However, the detailed agenda of his visit and the official schedule of his meetings have not been disclosed.

Farid had visited India to attend the eighth South Asian Counter Terrorism Conference held in New Delhi on October 26 and 27. He represented Bangladesh at the conference, which brought together security officials from South Asian countries. Farid returned to Dhaka on October 28 and left for Pakistan on November 9.

The Bangladesh government has not released any official information regarding the Pakistan visit. At a time when Bangladesh's security and diplomatic engagements with both India and Pakistan are attracting attention, Farid's latest visit is being closely monitored.

Reports indicate that military cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan has increased since Tarique Rahman assumed office as Prime Minister on February 17. On November 9, a four-member Pakistani military delegation led by Major General Kashif Abdullah arrived in Dhaka. The delegation held discussions with Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman, Principal Staff Officer of Bangladesh's Armed Forces Division.

The discussions reportedly focused on the implementation of the A2AST framework. Its stated objectives include facilitating military information sharing between the two countries, strengthening border security cooperation, conducting joint military training and exercises, and improving communication between military officers. However, the establishment of a fully operational intelligence-sharing mechanism under this framework has not been independently confirmed.