Pakistan Docking at Bangladesh Port Flares ‘Deep State’ Theory

Pakistan Cargo Vessel in Bangladesh Breaks 5-decade Lull

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, November 16: The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka broke the news of the first cargo vessel from Karachi docking at the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh. Within two months of the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, Bangladesh allowed Pakistan to dock at its port to raise eyebrows in India.

“The first direct cargo vessel from Karachi, Pakistan has arrived in Chittagong, Bangladesh, marking a major step in bilateral trade. This new route will streamline supply chains, reduce transit time and open new business opportunities for both countries,” said the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka in a post on X.

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The cargo broke the lull of five decades in the bilateral relations between the two Islamic countries in South Asia. Since 1971, there had been no maritime contact between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The AAK Niazi-led eastern command of the Pakistani Army had seen the Indian armed forces decimating them within a few days after the naval fleet was destroyed in one-day bombing by the Indian Air Force in the Bay of Bengal. Since then, Pakistan lost seat contacts with Bangladesh.

“A cargo vessel from Karachi docked at Chittagong on Wednesday, marking the first-ever direct maritime contact between Pakistan and Bangladesh since the Liberation War of 1971 but stirring up ripples of worry in the Indian security establishment,” said The Telegraph in a report.

The Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Muhammed Yunus on taking charge in Dhaka had rued that lack of good relations with Pakistan badly affected his country. Hasina was ousted after two-month-long violent campaign with claims in some quarters that the students were trained by Deep State involving Pakistan and the western nations.

The docking of the Pakistani cargo vessel is also raising eyebrows with the shadow of China lurking in the backyard. Hasina had kept China at an arms’ length when she helmed Bangladesh.

In some quarters, it’s being claimed that it was not Pakistan but China that delivered a consignment of weapons to Bangladesh. “The ship is Chinese but Pakistani and British media are spinning the news for cheap traction before 16 December Pakistan surrender day. Also, that Yunus has removed inspection clause for ships coming from Pakistan makes it an easy way for sending weapons,” said Nepal Correspondence in a thread on X, linking the British media reportage on the event.

Security analysts are looking at the event amid deepening Deep State conspiracy theory doing the rounds that Hasina was ousted as a part of a larger conspiracy. Bangladesh is surrounded on three sides of India’s Northeast while one side opens to the sea on the side of Myanmar.

“Such direct maritime links between India’s eastern and western neighbours have the potential to create instability in the northeastern states because of their proximity to Bangladesh’s southeastern coast,” Telegraph quoted security analysts telling the Kolkata-based daily.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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