Barely two months after Indian intelligence agencies held Pakistan’s ISI and its proxy outfit The Resistance Front (TRF) responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, fresh concerns have emerged over Bangladesh’s interim National Security Advisor (NSA), Dr Khalilur Rahman, secretly seeking to establish contact with the very perpetrators of the attack.
According to highly placed sources in the Bangladesh Army’s intelligence wing, Rahman has requested Chinese assistance to facilitate a meeting with Asim Malik, the head of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), during his forthcoming visit to Beijing. The request reportedly came during a confidential meeting between Rahman and the Chinese ambassador in Dhaka ahead of Rahman’s recent trip to London.
“The meeting was a strategic precursor to his China visit, where Rahman has clearly sought help in arranging a direct audience with the ISI chief,” said a senior Bangladesh Army intelligence officer, adding, “His desire to engage with the architect of the Pahalgam massacre, which killed 26 civilians in India, is deeply troubling and raises questions about the security intent of Bangladesh’s interim leadership.”
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A growing rift between the Bangladesh Army and the country’s interim government has become increasingly evident in recent months, stemming from disagreements over key national issues. Tensions have reportedly escalated over the conduct of general elections to establish an elected government, as well as over the controversial proposal to create a so-called humanitarian corridor to Myanmar’s Rakhine state. While officially framed as a humanitarian initiative, military sources claim the corridor is a pretext to facilitate the involvement of foreign powers — particularly the United States — within the region, raising concerns about national sovereignty and India’s strategic interests.
The investigation into the Pahalgam massacre has identified Hashim Musa, also known as Suleman, as one of the key perpetrators behind the deadly attack. According to an Indian intelligence official, Musa is a former commando of Pakistan’s Special Service Group (SSG) who later joined the ranks of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“He played an active role in executing the Pahalgam assault. We have gathered substantial evidence confirming his operational ties with ISI,” the official stated, underscoring the direct involvement of Pakistani state-linked actors in the cross-border terror strike.
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Indian intelligence officials stationed in Dhaka have expressed grave concern over Rahman’s covert diplomatic overtures. According to sources within India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Rahman’s actions — combined with Bangladesh's overall silence following the Pahalgam incident — have added serious strain to the India–Bangladesh relationship.
“Bangladesh’s response post-Pahalgam was conspicuously muted. Unlike regional partners such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Dhaka did not issue any condemnation of the massacre. That silence was further compounded when, mere hours after the attack, Dr. Asif Nazrul, the interim government’s Legal Advisor, allegedly met with Harun Izhar, the Bangladesh module chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, inside the Ministry of Law office in Dhaka,” an MEA official stated.
Indian analysts view Rahman’s effort to meet ISI leadership as not just diplomatically provocative, but also indicative of a growing pattern of Islamist radical engagement and strategic alignment that poses challenges to regional stability.
“This isn’t just a diplomatic misstep — it’s a dangerous signal,” an Indian intelligence official emphasised. “Rahman’s covert outreach to Pakistan’s ISI, following a brutal terror attack on Indian soil, is adding yet another layer of mistrust and raising fears about Bangladesh becoming a passive or willing conduit for fundamentalist forces in South Asia.”
The developments have triggered fresh calls within Indian strategic circles for a reassessment of intelligence cooperation and diplomatic ties with Dhaka under its interim administration.
Adding to the controversy, intelligence inputs have revealed that just two days before the high-profile London meeting between interim government Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, Khalilur held a secret meeting with Tarique at his residence on June 11, 2025. Political observers suggest this lesser-known meeting may have been the real power summit, with the Yunus-Tarique engagement serving merely as a public relations front.
The lack of transparency surrounding the meeting has ignited a firestorm of speculation and debate. BNP insiders confirm growing dissent within the party ranks, with demands intensifying over the past two months for the resignation of Rahman and Student Affairs Advisor Asif Mahmud. Critics argue that the NSA’s actions and increasing influence pose a risk to national security.
Rahman, a US citizen by naturalisation, originally entered Bangladesh’s interim administration as the High Representative for Rohingya Affairs. However, within just two months, he was elevated to the pivotal role of National Security Advisor. Since then, he has maintained an unusually prominent presence in key areas of governance — including the Ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs — leading many to question the extent of his authority.
Amid his growing dominance in state matters, concerns are mounting in both political and administrative circles about what some are calling his "unchecked omnipotence." As Bangladesh navigates an increasingly volatile political environment, the shadowy dealings and rising clout of Rahman continue to fuel debate over the true nature of power in the country’s interim government.
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