According to a report in The Economic Times, ISI chief Lieutenant General Asim Malik visited Dhaka on Tuesday, the first visit to Bangladesh by the head of Pakistan's intelligence agency in decades. The report indicated that Malik’s visit was organised with the aim of establishing an information-sharing framework between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The initiative reportedly included discussions on strategies that could allegedly disrupt India through cross-border subversive operations.

Malik arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday, travelling via Dubai. He was received by Lieutenant General Muhammad Faizur Rahman, the Quarter Master General (QMG) of the Bangladesh Army, who is said to have close associations with Pakistan.

Although the relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan has historically been strained, the recent removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly improved ties between the two nations. This shift is attributed to a growing wave of anti-India sentiment observed in both countries, according to the ET report.

In a related development, Lieutenant General SM Kamr-ul-Hassan, the principal staff officer (PSO) of Bangladesh's armed forces division and the second-highest-ranking official in the Bangladesh Army, recently visited Islamabad.

During his visit, he held meetings with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. These discussions focused on emerging security challenges and avenues for enhancing bilateral military cooperation, as stated in a release by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The two generals highlighted the importance of a "stronger defence relationship," stressing that the enduring partnership between Pakistan and Bangladesh should remain "resilient against external influences." The statement notably refrained from directly mentioning India.

Additionally, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Muhammad Yunus, the current head of Bangladesh's interim government, during an international summit in Cairo last month.