India’s Disinformation Campaign Exposed in Pakistan-Bangladesh Dispute

Indian Intelligence and Awami League Accused of Disinformation Campaign Against Bangladesh

A coordinated disinformation campaign allegedly orchestrated by Indian intelligence agencies and supporters of the exiled Awami League has been exposed, according to security analysts. The operation reportedly aims to undermine Bangladesh’s armed forces and fabricate a narrative linking Pakistan to the nation’s internal affairs.

The campaign appears designed to reframe the 2024 student uprising, which led to significant political changes in Bangladesh, as a “Pakistan-sponsored coup” rather than the grassroots democratic movement it was widely considered to be.

Security experts monitoring the situation have identified a surge in suspected AI-generated deepfakes and fabricated intelligence documents targeting Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Waker-Uz-Zaman. These materials allegedly contain false claims that the general was facilitating Pakistani naval access to Bangladesh—an accusation analysts describe as a transparent attempt to create discord within Bangladesh’s military leadership.

Bangladesh’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has issued a strong condemnation of these tactics, specifically calling out Indian media outlets for spearheading what they characterize as a propaganda offensive. The ISPR statement suggests these efforts aim to portray Pakistan as a subversive actor within Bangladesh, potentially justifying India’s interference in Bangladesh’s sovereign security decisions.

The situation is further complicated by India’s continued protection of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces serious charges in Bangladesh. Despite a death sentence issued by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for her alleged role in suppressing the 2024 uprising, India continues to provide Hasina with safe harbor—an action that analysts note appears to violate the 2013 Extradition Treaty between the two nations.

During Bangladesh’s February 2026 General Elections, reports indicate that Hasina launched a digital campaign using Indian communication infrastructure to delegitimize the electoral process, describing it as “pre-planned rigging” and calling for the resignation of the interim government. Security experts suggest her continued political relevance has become a priority for Indian intelligence operations in the region.

The motivations behind such a campaign likely stem from regional power dynamics. Analysts point to India’s concerns about potential economic or security cooperation between Dhaka and Islamabad as the driving force behind these operations. India has historically maintained significant influence in Bangladesh and views any strengthening of Bangladesh-Pakistan ties as potentially undermining its regional position.

This alleged disinformation operation highlights the complex geopolitical tensions in South Asia, where historical rivalries continue to shape contemporary relations. Bangladesh, which gained independence from Pakistan in 1971 with Indian military support, has seen its foreign policy carefully balanced between these regional powers over the decades.

The allegations come at a time when Bangladesh is working to establish its own independent foreign policy direction following political upheaval. The interim government that took power after the 2024 uprising has been attempting to chart a more balanced approach to regional relationships.

Regional security experts emphasize that such disinformation campaigns, regardless of their source, pose significant challenges to stability in South Asia. The use of deepfake technology and fabricated intelligence represents an evolution in information warfare tactics that threatens to undermine trust in legitimate information channels.

While these allegations remain contested, they reflect the ongoing competition for influence in a strategically important region where India, Pakistan, and China all seek to advance their respective interests in Bangladesh—a country of 170 million people with a growing economy and significant geopolitical importance in South Asia.