Bangladesh–Pakistan Defence Pact: Strategic Gamble or Pragmatic Diversification?

Reading Time: 4 minutes The social media space has recently been abuzz with speculation that Bangladesh and Pakistan are considering a mutual defence agreement — a move that, if realised, would represent one of the most significant shifts in South Asia’s strategic landscape since the early 1970s. While neither Dhaka nor Islamabad has officially confirmed such a development, the discussion has captured the attention of defence analysts, political scientists, and policymakers across the region. The speculation comes at a time when Bangladesh is redefining its foreign and defence policies in the post–Monsoon Revolution era, guided by a desire to achieve strategic autonomy and reduce reliance on any single foreign power. Over the past two years, Dhaka has actively diversified its military partnerships, pursuing technology transfers and defence-industrial cooperation with Türkiye, Italy, China, and South Korea. Within this wider strategy of diversification, Pakistan — once Bangladesh’s wartime adversary — has re-emerged