The northeastern region of India covering a total area of about 2,55,000 sq km is surrounded by Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. Less than one percent of the external boundaries of the region are contiguous with rest of India while remaining 99 percent form international borders. There is not only geographical isolation of this region but also absence of cultural and psychological integration with the mainstream. Many ethnic groups in the region especially in the areas bordering the international boundaries have more in common with the population living across the boundary than with the rest of India. Bangladesh has been active in exploiting the situation in the Northeastern region and this has had impact on the overall security in the region.

East Pakistan had aided many insurgent activities in the India's northeast. After birth of Bangladesh till Mujibur Rehman was in power the relations were cordial. But, soon after his assassination, the forces used to the Pakistan way of thinking took over and earlier policy of hoisting anti-India insurgents on Bangladesh soil was revived.

Influx from Bangladesh is a major problem for the Northeast. There are estimated to be 15 to 18 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India who have spread all over in the Northeast  with the bulk in Assam. Three to five million have spread over to Bihar, Bengal and to other parts of India. 'Operation Pin Code' is yet another motive of Pakistan ISI to pan-Islamise the Northeast. The aim is to first raise a Jihadi group to carve out the Bangladeshi dominated border areas of Assam as new districts of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has become very important to forces linked to al Qaeda. They have also managed to pool in ULFA leaders into this. Bangla Bhai, alias Siddiqul Islam, is leading violent campaign preaching militant Islam in different border districts of Bangladesh. His group comprising about 10,000 members is organising meetings and preaching Jihad. His Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh with ISI patronage has already made a dent in Assam. Khaleda Zia's government has been a spectator to the designs of fanatical elements across Bangladesh. Her coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami, is a fundamentalist political entity with no concern for any secular values. The impact of fundamentalism can be felt in some parts of the Northeast.

Madarssas have begun to proliferate in a big way both in Bangladesh as well inside India along the border areas. In Bangladesh there are about 64,000 Madarssas and the students who graduate from these religious seminaries are often lured by fundamentalists and fall prey to the attraction of Jihad. Matter of concern is the Madarssas proliferating along the Bangladesh border some of which harbour fundamentalist as well as insurgents/militant groups crossing over. Madarssas in Chittagong Hill Tract have been used by Harkat-ul-Jihad for arms training.

Inside Bangladesh there are a number of training, liaison camps and safe houses for the underground insurgents of the Northeast India like ULFA, Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam, NDFB, NSCN (IM), PLA, KYKL etc. ULFA leaders permanently reside in Dhaka and Chittagong. They are running lucrative business in Bangladesh and are living a luxurious life. ULFA seems to have a working relationship with the present Bangladesh Government. Recent Indian intelligence reports have indicated that there are at least 190 militant camps inside Bangladesh which train and house Northeast militants with the help of ISI and al Qaeda.

From Bangladesh, the ULFA has made contacts with arms dealers in Cambodia and Thailand. Cox's Bazaar became a transit route of weapons. Bangladesh also served as a place for currency conversion and flowing finances out of country. As a result of harbouring insurgents, Bangladesh has been flooded with small arms specially the Chittagong Hill Tracts. These weapons have been procured from insurgents groups in Myanmar and are brought by small speed boats to Chittagong ports or to unmonitored Cox's Bazaar's port and further purchased by other insurgent groups of North-East.

The presence of number of terrorists like Harkat-ul-Jihad, Al-Islami, Islami Liberation Tiger of Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chatra Shibir, Arakan Rohingya National Organization etc in Bangladesh have made their impact in North-East insurgency. Linkages have been established between Harkat-ul-Jihad, Al-Islam and al Qaeda.

Pakistan under pressure from Western countries may have slowed down the pushing of terrorists into J&K but has now concentrated its attention towards Northeast India through Bangladesh which has turned into a hub centre for the terrorist organizations. The hostile attitude of Bangladesh can be seen in the recent border area incidents. It is a matter of deep concern for India.