ISLAMABAD: Indian media outlets and security agencies have alleged a directoperational link between Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operativesand banned Islamist groups in Bangladesh in connection with the recent bombblast in Delhi’s Paharganj area that claimed three lives and injured 28others. According to a report published in the Deccan Chronicle, aPakistan-based LeT handler identified as Saifullah Saif participatedvirtually in a high-level planning meeting held in Dhaka’s upscale Bananineighbourhood just days before the explosion on 12 November.
The report claims that seven individuals were physically present at themeeting, including senior leaders of the proscribed Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT)and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), alongside two serving officials from theBangladesh government. During the virtual session, Saifullah Saif isalleged to have issued detailed operational directives for conductinglarge-scale terror attacks across multiple Indian cities, with the Delhiblast purportedly serving as the initial strike in a broader campaign.
Indian investigators further assert that a Bangladeshi national namedIqtiyar played a pivotal logistical role by arranging safehouses in Dhakaand Chittagong for the operatives involved. These safehouses, the reportstates, were used to store explosives, coordinate cross-border movement,and finalise target reconnaissance. The Deccan Chronicle cites unnamedsources within India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) as confirmingthat intercepted communications and digital forensics have establishedSaif’s virtual presence through encrypted platforms.
Analysts caution that such claims, while serious, require independentverification given the historically strained relations between India andPakistan, as well as New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to isolate Islamabaddiplomatically on terrorism charges. The alleged involvement of Bangladeshigovernment officials, if substantiated, could significantly complicateDhaka’s bilateral ties with both India and Pakistan, particularly amid thecurrent political transition in Bangladesh following the ouster of theAwami League government.
Pakistan’s foreign office has consistently rejected similar accusations inthe past, terming them baseless and politically motivated. No officialstatement has been issued regarding the latest allegations at the time ofreporting. Bangladesh authorities have likewise remained silent, thoughprevious instances of alleged extremist activity have prompted jointcounter-terrorism mechanisms with India.
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The Delhi blast, which targeted a crowded market during peak evening hours,has intensified scrutiny on transnational jihadist networks operating inSouth Asia. Indian security forces have detained four suspects, includingtwo Bangladeshi nationals, and recovered additional explosive material froma rented accommodation in Noida. The NIA has announced a reward of Rs500,000 for information leading to the arrest of Saifullah Saif,designating him a key conspirator.
While the Deccan Chronicle report relies heavily on intelligence inputs,the absence of publicly available evidence raises questions about thetiming and intent behind its disclosure. Regional experts suggest thatIndia may be leveraging the incident to pressure Bangladesh’s interimadministration into cracking down on radical elements and to reinforce itsnarrative of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism ahead of international forums.
Source:www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/151125/pakistan-bangladesh-links-in-delhi-blast-probe-nia.html”>https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/151125/pakistan-bangladesh-links-in-delhi-blast-probe-nia.html