In a development that has drawn regional attention, Pakistan has reportedly established a new Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) cell inside its High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The move follows a recent high-profile visit by Pakistan’s senior military leadership to Bangladesh – signalling an attempt to expand Islamabad’s intelligence and defence footprint in the region.
According to diplomatic sources, the decision to set up the ISI unit was taken soon after the visit of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The general, accompanied by top intelligence and defence officials, held multiple closed-door meetings with Bangladeshi military leaders to discuss security cooperation and potential training exchanges.
Reports suggest that the ISI cell will operate under the supervision of a brigadier-rank officer, supported by a small team of colonels and majors tasked with managing information sharing, counter-intelligence coordination, and liaison activities with Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).
While Pakistan frames the move as part of “enhancing defence diplomacy” with friendly nations, analysts see it as a calculated effort to rebuild strategic influence in Dhaka after decades of minimal engagement. The development also comes amid a broader realignment of regional ties, as Bangladesh continues to balance relationships with India, China, and Pakistan.
Indian security observers have taken note of the development, calling it a “strategically sensitive shift” given Dhaka’s proximity to India’s eastern borders. New Delhi has historically viewed ISI activity in South Asia with suspicion, particularly after previous intelligence incidents linked to cross-border networks.
Neither the Pakistani Foreign Ministry nor the Bangladesh government has officially commented on the establishment of the ISI cell. However, regional analysts say the timing – coming soon after the high-level military visit – indicates a coordinated push to renew bilateral intelligence cooperation.
If confirmed, the new ISI presence in Dhaka could mark a significant turn in South Asia’s security landscape, introducing new complexities in regional intelligence sharing and strategic trust.
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