For the First time after 1971 – Pakistan Army returns to Bangladesh to train Bangladeshi Army
Amid strained diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh following the Sheikh Hasina government’s fall, the Pakistan Army has entered into a new agreement to train Bangladeshi soldiers starting February 2025. This marks the first such collaboration since the 1971 Liberation War, underscoring a significant shift in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. The training sessions will take place in four cantonments, beginning with the Mymensingh cantonment, which hosts the training and doctrine command headquarters of the Bangladesh Army.
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The proposal, extended by Pakistan’s Joint Chief of Staff Committee chairman Gen. S. Shamshad Mirza, aligns with the Yunus-led interim government’s effort to improve ties with Islamabad. High-ranking Pakistani officers, including Maj Gen-level personnel, are expected to oversee the training. This development is seen as a strategic move by both countries to strengthen their military cooperation, potentially altering regional dynamics.
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India, however, views this collaboration with concern, citing historical instances of Pakistan-trained officers in Bangladesh promoting anti-India sentiment. With longstanding allegations of Pakistan’s involvement in fostering terrorism against India, including through its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the new agreement raises fears that similar ideologies could resurface within the Bangladeshi military, threatening India’s security landscape.
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