Bangladesh Visa rules relaxed for Pakistanis, sparking security concerns in India

Bangladesh has recently eased visa rules for Pakistani citizens, raising security concerns in India. This change, announced by the Security Services Division (SSD) of the Ministry of Home Affairs on December 2, removes the need for Pakistani nationals to obtain security clearance before applying for a visa. This requirement was put in place in 2019 due to heightened tensions and security concerns.

The policy shift coincides with a meeting between Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, and Khaleda Zia, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on December 3 in Dhaka. The timing of this meeting has drawn significant attention, particularly following the Bangladesh government's decision to allow direct cargo vessel movement from Karachi to Chittagong in November.

Historically, the BNP has maintained closer ties with Pakistan, in contrast to the more pro-India stance of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League. This recent diplomatic development has led to increased uncertainty about Bangladesh's future political and diplomatic direction.

Mubashar Hasan, an expert on Bangladesh politics and Executive Director of the Sydney Policy and Analysis Centre in Australia, commented on the situation to ThePrint. He stated, "This signals not a shift but a balancing act by Bangladesh. Bangladeshi officials are persistently stating that they want a friendly relationship with India, though India is not reciprocating that. They not only gave refuge to Hasina but politicians are using inflammatory remarks based on half-truth and disinformation on Bangladesh."

Hasan further elaborated, "By normalizing relationships with India's arch-rival Pakistan, Bangladesh's administration is signaling that it is not going to see South Asian politics through an Indian prism anymore. Whether in the long run, Bangladesh can continue to afford that remains to be seen as the West, specifically the US, sees South Asia through an Indian prism and the US is a vital ally for Bangladesh. Having said that, India, too, must realize its neighborhood policy is in shambles."

As Bangladesh navigates these complex diplomatic waters, the implications for regional security and political alliances remain to be seen.