New Delhi: Intelligence reports indicate that Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based leader of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is actively plotting attacks against India, utilizing Bangladesh as a launchpad. This development has triggered significant security concerns in India, prompting increased vigilance along the India-Bangladesh border.
According to reports, LeT commander Saifullah Saif declared that a top aide of Hafiz Saeed is currently operating from Bangladesh, with the aim of pushing terrorism into India. Saif made these claims during a rally in Khairpur Tamivali, Pakistan, stating that Lashkar operatives are active in Bangladesh and are working to influence local youth. He further alleged that this aide has been dispatched to Bangladesh to prepare local youths for jihad and provide them with terrorist training. This suggests that Bangladesh is increasingly being used as a staging ground for conspiracies against India.
The intelligence reports also highlight the presence of Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, a close associate of Hafiz Saeed, in Bangladesh's Rajshahi district, which is near the Indian border. Zaheer's visit, which included delivering inflammatory speeches, is viewed as part of a larger plot to destabilize India's northeast. Concerns have been raised about the growing nexus between Pakistan and Bangladesh, particularly after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024.
Security experts believe that Pakistan-based LeT is attempting to revive its cross-border operations under the guise of religious outreach. This is occurring amid a backdrop of rising calls for jihad and a "Greater Bangladesh," which is having a direct impact on border youth, recruitment, and national security.
These developments have emerged even as Hafiz Saeed is officially serving a jail sentence in Pakistan for terror financing, raising questions about the extent of freedom he continues to enjoy. Despite assurances from Pakistan in the past about clamping down on LeT, the organization has been covertly allowed to function.
India's security establishment is increasingly concerned about the resurgence of terror cells in Bangladesh, echoing a period from 2001 to 2006 when ISI-backed terror networks in Dhaka were linked to attacks in India. During that time, Bangladesh-based groups collaborated with the ISI, raising fears of a similar scenario unfolding once again.
The situation is further complicated by the presence of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in Bangladesh, who has been invited for a month-long tour, adding to regional security concerns.
Indian security agencies have taken note of these threats and have increased surveillance along the India-Bangladesh border. The focus is on monitoring the activities of LeT operatives, preventing the radicalization of youth, and countering any potential cross-border terrorist activities. The government is also working to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh to address these security concerns and ensure the stability of the region.
