Dhaka/Islamabad, October 29, 2025 — In a development that underscores rapidly expanding defence and intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, Islamabad has established a dedicated Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) cell within its High Commission in Dhaka, according to top intelligence sources cited by CNN-News18.
The move follows the recent four-day visit to Bangladesh by General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). During his visit, General Mirza met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Bangladesh’s top military leadership, including the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
High-Level Delegation and Strategic Talks
General Mirza led an eight-member delegation comprising senior ISI officials—including a Major General—and representatives from Pakistan’s Air Force and Navy. The delegation held extensive discussions with counterparts from Bangladesh’s National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), sources said.
Joint Intelligence Mechanism Formed
Senior intelligence officials confirmed that both sides agreed to establish a joint intelligence-sharing and operational coordination mechanism, primarily aimed at monitoring maritime activity in the Bay of Bengal and the airspace along India’s eastern flank.
Under the new framework, Bangladesh has reportedly permitted Pakistan to station intelligence officers at its High Commission in Dhaka. The initial deployment will include one Brigadier, two Colonels, four Majors, and officers from the Pakistani Air Force and Navy, supported by administrative and technical staff.
Expanding Defence Cooperation
In return, Pakistan has offered Bangladesh a package of military and technical cooperation, including officer training programmes, the supply of infantry and artillery systems, and joint naval and air force exercises.
Dhaka has expressed interest in JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft and Fatah-series rocket systems, according to officials familiar with the discussions. A high-level Bangladeshi military delegation is expected to visit Islamabad soon to finalise Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and defence procurement agreements initiated during General Mirza’s visit.
A Strategic Shift in Post-Hasina Bangladesh
The growing Pakistan-Bangladesh engagement marks a sharp policy shift following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. Islamabad was among the first to recognise and support the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, pledging solidarity with “the people of Bangladesh.”
Since then, bilateral ties have seen a rapid thaw, with both countries signing agreements on visa-free diplomatic travel, trade facilitation, defence cooperation, sea route access, and air connectivity. Over the past year, Pakistani leaders including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar have met Professor Yunus on multiple occasions — both in Dhaka and on the sidelines of global summits.
Military-to-military engagement has also intensified, with Bangladeshi generals visiting Pakistan’s GHQ in Rawalpindi and Pakistani commanders receiving ceremonial welcomes in Dhaka.
The establishment of the ISI cell is seen as the most institutionalised link yet in this evolving partnership — signalling a new chapter in South Asia’s shifting strategic landscape.
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