A senior youth leader of Pakistan’s ruling party has sparked controversy after issuing a veiled threat against India while commenting on developments in Bangladesh, further inflaming already sensitive regional dynamics.
Kamran Saeed Usmani, a leader of the youth wing of the Pakistan Muslim League, said in a video message that Pakistan would respond if India “casts an evil eye” on Bangladesh. Referring to Pakistan’s military capabilities, Usmani warned that “Pakistan’s people, armed forces, and missiles are not far away.”
The remarks come amid heightened political volatility in Bangladesh following the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, an event that has triggered concerns in India over rising radicalism and growing anti-India rhetoric across sections of Bangladeshi political discourse.
Usmani accused India of promoting what he termed an “Akhand Bharat ideology” and alleged, without evidence, that New Delhi was cutting off Bangladesh’s water supply and fostering divisions within Muslim communities. He claimed that Pakistan and Bangladesh share a “common worldview” that goes beyond geopolitics.
Bangladesh’s history with Pakistan remains deeply sensitive. Prior to 1971, Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan, before a brutal military crackdown by the Pakistani army led to widespread atrocities. India’s military intervention that year resulted in Pakistan’s defeat and the creation of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
Concerns in India have intensified following recent incidents in Bangladesh, including the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu citizen, which sparked outrage and diplomatic unease.
Adding to the escalation, Hasnat Abdullah, leader of the newly formed National Citizen Party, issued a sharp warning at a rally in Dhaka last week. He said that if Bangladesh were destabilised, “the fire of resistance will spread beyond borders,” and suggested Bangladesh could offer refuge to separatist elements from India’s northeastern states.
India has so far refrained from responding publicly to these remarks. Former R&AW chief Vikram Sood cautioned against any military reaction, writing on social media that provocation appeared to be the objective and urging India to strengthen non-kinetic responses while closely monitoring developments.
The situation underscores growing regional unease as political rhetoric in both Pakistan and Bangladesh increasingly targets India, raising concerns about diplomatic stability in South Asia.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
