CHALLENGES TO SECURE INDIA'S LAND BORDERS

Our biggest challenge is the Pakistan-China strategic nexus directed against India in a nuclearised environment

- MAJ GEN RPS BHADAURIA

INDIA'S land borders are unique in many ways. India has a 3,325 km border with Pakistan, 3,488 km with China, 1,770 km with Nepal, 662 km with Bhutan, 1,643 km with Myanmar, and the largest land border of 4,340 km with Bangladesh. Our borders are unique due to the variety of terrains through which these borders pass, namely deserts, mountains, glaciers and forests. It is obvious that managing such large borders in diverse terrain conditions pose myriad challenges.

Our biggest challenge is that we have contested borders with Pakistan and China due to the long-standing disputes and a Pakistan-China strategic nexus directed against the nation in a nuclearised environment. India has been facing a proxy war on its western border for many decades. Pakistan is using non-state actors to bleed India by a hundred cuts. The border management along the line of control (LOC) does not follow any geographical alignment and passes through mountain peaks and rugged terrains. Moreover, Pakistan has located the border posts to facilitate terrorist infiltration.

The Indian Army and the BSF are deployed in multiple layers to form an anti-infiltration grid. The border fence and deployment of other surveillance devices has helped in reducing infiltrations. The surgical strikes launched by our armed forces in the wake of terrorist attacks supported by Pakistan's ISI have succeeded in sending the message of firm resolve to deal with the menace of terrorism and proxy wars.