Caught in the Crossfire: Bangladesh’s Strategic Dilemma in an India–Pakistan Conflict

Reading Time: 3 minutes The 22 April 2025 Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 civilian tourists were killed in a devastating militant assault, has pushed the subcontinent once again to the brink of confrontation. As India grapples with domestic outrage and contemplates retaliatory action against Pakistan, South Asia’s precarious equilibrium is under acute stress. Caught in this storm is Bangladesh, a rising regional power with expanding military capabilities, growing economic ambitions, and a long history of navigating between two nuclear-armed neighbours. With tensions escalating, Dhaka must carefully recalibrate its position—reinforcing deterrence against India where necessary, while engaging Pakistan with calculated caution to secure its strategic autonomy. Strategic Geography, Shifting Stakes Bangladesh’s location—flanking India’s vulnerable Siliguri Corridor and bordering insurgency-prone stretches of Myanmar—places it squarely in the path of regional instability. While Dhaka is not a belligerent in Indo-Pakistani tensions, its geostrategic relevance grows whenever New Delhi and Islamabad draw swords. This