A.5. Challenges In Border Management
India faces several border challenges due to its diverse geography, historical conflicts, and political tensions with neighboring countries. It has long land and coastal borders 15000 Km and 7500 km respectively. 456 Blocks of 119 border Districts in 16 States and 2 Union Territories abutting the International Boundary. Many Indian states have long coasts. Managing land borders is very different from managing coastal and riverine borders.
Challenges are –
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Infiltration and Illegal Immigration |
India shares a 3,323-kilometer-long border with Bangladesh, and the porous nature of the border has led to illegal immigration from Bangladesh. According to a report by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, there were 4.5 million illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in India in 2016. The report also estimated that around 2,000 Bangladeshis enter India illegally every day. |
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Border Disputes |
India has several border disputes with neighboring countries like Pakistan and China. The India-Pakistan border dispute over the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir has led to several conflicts and ceasefire violations. In 2019, there were 3,168 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC, leading to the deaths of 18 Indian soldiers and civilians. |
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Smuggling and Illegal Trade |
India shares a 1,643-kilometer-long border with Myanmar, which is a known hub for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and illegal trade. According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, around 33% of the world’s heroin comes from Afghanistan and is smuggled through the India-Myanmar border. |
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Terrorism |
India shares a 4,096-kilometer-long border with Pakistan, which has been a breeding ground for terrorism. The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed 166 people, including foreigners, were carried out by terrorists who infiltrated into India from Pakistan. |
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Border Infrastructure |
India shares a 3,488-kilometer-long border with China, which has been a source of tension between the two countries. The lack of border infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has made it challenging for India to maintain its presence in the remote areas along the border. In 2020, tensions escalated between India and China over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, leading to a deadly clash between the two sides that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. |
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Complexity in Relationships |
The complexity of centre-state relations makes border management that much more difficult. Stares often see the presence of central agencies on the border areas with disapproval. |
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Other challenges |
The neighbours are often hostile, Terrains are diverse and difficult, Border areas are underdeveloped, Connectivity with the hinterland and across to other countries is poor, Border populations feel insecure, Borders areas in remote parts are getting depopulated. |
[Image: Recent Border Tension between China and India]