The Iranian regime is reportedly orchestrating a dangerous plot involving a series of subversive activities in Saudi Arabia during the upcoming Hajj. According to AI-generated analysis, while there is no precise official count, it is estimated that at least 250,000 registered Rohingyas and an additional 150,000 unregistered ones currently reside in Saudi Arabia. Some estimates suggest the number may be even higher. Reports indicate that around 54,000 Rohingya refugees have lived in the Kingdom for decades, despite Saudi efforts to pressure Bangladesh into issuing them passports — even though many of them have never set foot in Bangladesh.

Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the Rohingyas has been complex — shaped by historical acceptance and more recent attempts to shift the burden of their statelessness onto Bangladesh. While the Kingdom had once provided refuge to those fleeing persecution in Myanmar, it has more recently faced internal and external pressure to repatriate them.

Researchers have documented that Rohingyas are involved in various transnational criminal activities — including drug trafficking, theft, homicide, falsification of nationality, and political agitation. In recent years, militant Rohingya groups, particularly the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), have reportedly aligned themselves with global jihadist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS). This volatile environment has enabled Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to recruit Rohingyas — especially ARSA members — for terrorist operations in India and Bangladesh.

Simultaneously, Iran, Qatar, and Turkey have been channeling significant financial resources to promote jihadist indoctrination among Rohingyas, with Iran also actively attempting to convert them to the Shiite sect of Islam.

In January 2020, a report by The Times of India revealed that Indian security agencies had warned their armed forces and border patrols about ISI training 40 Rohingya individuals in Cox’s Bazar. The report stated that this training was being carried out via the Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a Bangladeshi terrorist organization. ISI allegedly provided JMB with an initial installment of 10 million Bangladeshi Taka (approximately US$117,000), funneled through Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

The report also noted that Indian intelligence feared these trained militants would be infiltrated into India via Bangladesh, especially after Pakistani efforts failed to breach India’s Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir due to heightened border security.

In an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at the Brussels-based think tank South Asia Democratic Forum, described the likelihood of ISI interference as “very high”.

“There is clear evidence that Pakistan, via its ISI in conjunction with the military, is giving protection, training, strategic planning, financial assistance and equipment........

© Blitz