Bangladesh Plans to Buy Abdali Missile From Pakistan from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

BANGLADESH PLANS TO BUY ABDALI MISSILE FROM PAKISTAN

• Rising Tensions: Bangladesh is reportedly considering buying Abdali Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) from Pakistan due to growing tensions with India.
• These missiles, also known as Hatf-2, are believed to be intended as a deterrent against potential Indian aggression.
• Purpose: Bangladesh's aim is to strengthen its defense and create a military balance with India, especially near their border.

• Range: The Abdali SRBMs have a range of about 400 km, which can cover parts of northeastern India, including major cities.
• Design: These missiles are designed for quick use in battlefield situations.
• Though their range is relatively short, they can still be dangerous if deployed near the India-Bangladesh border.
• Developed by Pakistan: The missiles are made by Pakistan’s Space Research Commission (SUPARCO) and are already used by the Pakistani Army, known as Hatf-2 within their forces.

• Threat to Northeastern India: Even though the Abdali missiles have a short range, they could still be used to target important areas in northeastern India, like Assam and Tripura, which are close to Bangladesh.
• Psychological Deterrent: The presence of these missiles in Bangladesh would act as a psychological threat to India, signaling Bangladesh’s growing military capabilities.
• Regional Arms Race: Experts warn that Bangladesh acquiring these missiles might spark an arms race in the region, forcing India to strengthen its missile defense systems and possibly increase offensive capabilities.

• Shifting Balance: Bangladesh’s acquisition of the Abdali missiles could change the security balance in South Asia, particularly in India’s favor.
• Although these missiles would not significantly affect Pakistan, they could raise tensions with India, especially if deployed near the border.
• Strategic Edge: The missiles give Bangladesh a tactical advantage, especially in quick battlefield reactions, but their limited range means they are primarily useful against India.

• Deteriorating India-Bangladesh Relations: Relations between India and Bangladesh have worsened, especially after the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the rise of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
• Communal Violence: India has criticized the Yunus-led government for not addressing communal violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, which has made ties even more strained.
• India’s Military Build-Up: India has been rapidly expanding its military infrastructure near the Bangladesh border, increasing tensions further.

• Pakistan’s Motivation: Pakistan may be willing to sell these missiles to Bangladesh to deepen ties with Dhaka, especially as it looks to counterbalance India’s regional influence.
• Global Arms Control: Although Bangladesh and Pakistan are not part of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), selling these missiles could attract international attention and debate about arms control in the region.

• Missile Defense: India is likely to strengthen its missile defense systems in the northeastern states if Bangladesh acquires these missiles.
• This could include deploying more advanced technology to prevent potential missile threats.
• Offensive Capabilities: India may also increase its own offensive missile capabilities to deter any potential threats from Bangladesh.