Pakistan's Cultural And Military Moves To Colonise Bangladesh

By S. Arshad, New Age Islam 13 January 2025 An Al Qaida Affiliate Terrorist Was Released By Yunus Government In September Last Year Main Points: 1. Pakistan army has signed a one year agreement with Bangladesh army to train its officers. 2. A huge cache of arms from Pakistan was seized by Bangla officials. 3. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sang a song of love for Bangladesh in a Rs 3 crore concert in Dhaka. ----- The relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have never been cordial after 1971 because of large scale massacre and rape of Bangladeshis by the Pakistani army for nine months until India's military intervention. Though the military dictators of Bangladesh had military ties with Pakistan, their was no love lost between Pakistan and Bangladeshi masses because of the bitter memories of the nine month atrocities of Pakistan army. After the establishment of democracy in Bangladesh in the 90s, particularly the government of Shaikh Hasina, the daughter of the founder of Bangladesh, the masses of Bangladesh even came closer to India as the Hasina government underlined India's role in securing Independence and saving Bangladeshis from the killing spree of the Pakistan army. During Khaleda Zia's pro-Pakistan government, Pakistan army briefly strengthened its grip on Bangladesh army, particularly its intelligence organisation DGFI and the government. During this period, terrorist organisations affiliated to Pakistan operated openly and illegal arms and ammunition was smuggled into Bangladesh from Pakistan. Pakistan funded and supported terror activities against India to destabilise it to avenge the creation of Bangladesh. For this purpose, Pakistan fuelled terrorism and insurgency in Kashmir in the 90s but could not achieve anything. The overthrow of Hasina government in August last year gave Pakistan another opportunity to spread its tentacles in Bangladesh. Md Yunus's stooge government was an ideal political tool for it as it had no popular mandate and had therefore no mass base. Taking advantage of the political instability and unaccountability of the Yunus government, the Pakistan government has once again started to mobilise anti-India elements in Bangladesh. Last month, the Pakistan army compelled the Yunus government to enter into an agreement with it to give training to Bangladeshi military officers. The agreement will remain in effect for one year and major rank officers of the Pakistani army will train Bangladeshi military officers. The aim is to achieve ideological alignment of Bangladesh army. The Bangladesh army was trained by the Pakistan army till the tenure of General Ershad. Thanks to this, Bangladesh army and other forces were hostile to India. DGFI and Bangladesh army were infested and infiltrated by Pakistani lobby who promoted terrorism and militantism in Bangladesh. But during Sheikh Hasina's 15 year rule, the Pakistani elements had been mostly neutralised and relegated to the corner. This increased desperation in Pakistan and the Pakistani lobby in Bangladesh. Taking advantage of the growing popular resentment against Hasina government due to its corruption, misgovernance and anti-incumbency wave, the Pro-Pakistan lobby successfully mobilised the support of the youth and the students and overthrew Sheikh Hasina government with the help of the army. But this was not the end. Rather the game started here. As the ground was conducive in Bangladesh, Pakistan this time planned to launch cultural initiatives along with military overtures to win the confidence of the Bengali masses. Therefore, Pakistan tried to promote tourism between Bangladesh and Pakistan. However, the move did not yield any results because of the lawlessness, insurgency and religious extremism so rampant in Pakistan. Secondly, Pakistan does not provide any scope of medical tourism for Bangladeshis because of its undeveloped medical services. Promotion of literary exchange was also not possible because of the difference in languages. Promoting harmony on religious ground was the only option but the sectarian differences in the Muslim society can not help Pakistan in this direction as well. Therefore, superficial moves like musical concerts of Pakistani singers singing in Urdu were the only option. In December, Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan held a concert in Dhaka and sang songs to promote brotherhood between the Bengalis and the Pakistanis. Khan even said, "Ami Bangladesh Ke Bhalobashi" ( I love Bangladesh). However, it should be noted that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan charged a nominal fee of Rs 3 crore for this noble cause. So much for harmony and brotherhood. It would go without saying that Bengalis were not much impressed because they know what Pakistanis think and say about Bangladeshis and particularly what Bhutto said about them.(Suwar Ke Bacche). The Pakistani dictator did not even consider them Muslims and ordered the Pakistan army to Muslimise them (by raping their women). Therefore, it is obvious that the recent military and cultural moves by Pakistan to penetrate deep into Bangladesh army and into the Bengali psyche are not aimed at making Bangladesh a prosperous and developed country but making it a colony of Pakistan and a military base to use it against India. Pakistan will only take Bangladesh the Afghanistan way. Terrorism, militantism nd violence is in the genes of Pakistanis and Pakistan uses terrorism as a strategic tool. It will provide training in terrorism to the unemployed youth and students of madrasas affiliated with a pro-Pakistan Islamic organisation as it does in Pakistan. Pakistan promoted Taliban in the 90s and received billions of dollars from the US in the name of fighting against terrorism but channelised the money to Taliban to help it grow. Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir revealed in an interview that in 1996, Benazir Bhutto government recognised Taliban at the behest of the US and soon after that Taliban formed government in Afghanistan. Imran Khan supported TTP and rehabilitated TTP terrorists from Afghanistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who are now attacking Pakistan army. Pakistan army will now produce militant organisations in Bangladesh by giving them training, providing funds and supplying arms and ammunition to them. How the Indian goverment counters these nefarious moves of Pakistan remains to be seen. ----- S. Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com. 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