Ayesha Farid

Ayesha Farid is a regional security specialist focusing on South Asia, with over a decade of experience analysing inter-state tensions, cross-border insurgency, and regional power dynamics. She has worked with leading policy think tanks and academic institutions, offering nuanced insights into the complex security challenges shaping the subcontinent. Ayesha’s expertise spans military doctrines, border disputes, and regional cooperation frameworks, making her a vital contributor to BDMilitary’s coverage of South Asian strategic affairs. She leads the Geopolitics & Diplomacy section at BDMilitary. Ayesha holds a dual master’s degree — a Master in International Relations from the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, Spain, and a Master of Public Policy from the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, Canada — combining deep academic insight with practical policy expertise.

Bangladesh Issues Travel Warning On India

Posted on 09/06/202509/06/2025 by Ayesha Farid

Reading Time: 3 minutesBangladesh has imposed stringent health screening measures at its western land ports and issued a formal advisory against non-essential travel to India, as authorities scramble to prevent the spread of a new and highly transmissible COVID-19 subvariant, NB.1.8.1, which is surging in neighbouring regions. The decision, announced by the Ministry Continue Reading

India’s Fractured Image

Posted on 07/06/202507/06/2025 by Ayesha Farid

Reading Time: 3 minutesIndia may be emerging as a major economic and geopolitical actor, but the narrative of a rising superpower is facing increasing resistance from its neighbours and foreign publics alike. While Delhi’s officials project ambition and confidence abroad, a growing number of countries, observers, and citizens view the Indian state and Continue Reading

Strategic Dual-Roles of Indian Missions in Bangladesh

Posted on 05/06/202505/06/2025 by Ayesha Farid

Reading Time: 3 minutesIndia and Bangladesh share a complex and multifaceted relationship rooted in history, geography, and strategic cooperation. Over the years, India has maintained a significant diplomatic presence in Bangladesh, including its High Commission in Dhaka and Deputy High Commissions in Chattogram, Khulna, and Rajshahi. These missions conduct a wide range of Continue Reading

Arakan Army’s Strategic Dilemma: Sustainability Hinges on Bangladeshi Support

Posted on 05/06/202505/06/2025 by Ayesha Farid

Reading Time: 3 minutesAs the civil conflict in Myanmar intensifies, the Arakan Army (AA) continues to make incremental gains in Rakhine State. However, despite recent territorial advances against the embattled Myanmar military junta, the AA’s aspirations for a de facto independent Arakanese polity face significant structural, geopolitical, and logistical challenges. Chief among these Continue Reading

Emerging Airpower Dynamics in the India-Bangladesh Border Zone

Posted on 31/05/202531/05/2025 by Ayesha Farid

Reading Time: 3 minutesIndia’s overt efforts to develop military facilities in close proximity to the Bangladesh border are unlikely to be interpreted by Dhaka as a benign or friendly gesture. On the contrary, such actions risk being perceived as escalatory, especially in the context of already heightened regional sensitivities. The restoration of India’s Continue Reading