Integrated Border Management – Key to National Security

Introduction

          India occupies a dominant and strategic location in South Asia and IOR. Most of the unsettled borders are legacy issues which along with difficult and hostile terrain and climate along borders have created various security threats and vulnerabilities. India has approximately 15,000 km of borders with seven countries that traverse through 18 states/UTs and 92 districtsand from security point of view, all these states could be considered as front line states. One of the major defining pillars of national sovereignty is safe and secure borders, if borders are safe and stable, only then a nation can truly reap benefits of social and economic prosperity. Border management involves coordination amongst various stakeholders and is a multidomain, multifaceted and integrated strategy which needs to cater for national security, strategic stability, economic growth, social integration and geopolitical security.

Current Challenges and Government Initiatives

• Pursuant to recommendations made by the Kargil Review Committee in December 1999, Four Task Forces, including one on border management was constituted. Recommendations so made were accepted by the government in May 2001 and MHA has been implementing these recommendations pertaining to border management. In order to pay focused attention to border management issues, a separate department of border management in MHA has been created since 2004. Based on the recommendations of the Task Force, “One Border- One Force” arrangement has been put in place for ease of border management as also various development projects are coming up along the border areas as part of Border Area Development Programme.  

• Secure and stable border require peace and stability in the neighboring countries, however, In India’s context, its neighborhood is invariably in a state of political, social, economic or security turmoil causing instability on the borders as well. Geo-centrality of India and fear of smaller neighbors in terms of economic and military might has somewhat impacted on harmonious relations and thus face military and non-military threats all across the border.

• India’s economic growth and work opportunities along with a flourishing democracy, have far outpaced most of its neighbors which has made borders vulnerable to problems like mass migration. Border Guarding Forces (BGFs) are still not adequately resourced and equipped to meet emerging challenges. Even today border guarding is manpower intensive and mainly dependent on human surveillance. At times these forces are called upon to perform other tasks than border guarding, diverting already scarce resource. Institutional mechanism for intelligence gathering, sharing and coordination on border management issues by various stake holders is still a work in progress.

• Due to magnitude and complexity of border management, large number of military, border guarding and police forces are involved in this task which have their own working environment, ethos, culture and command and control arrangements under different ministries.

• Border fencing along Indo Pak border has not been a fool proof measure as some areas still remain unfenced due to difficult terrain and also it can be operative if it is continuously kept under surveillance.  Despite sharing responsibility with large number of BGFs, Army still has to maintain massive commitment for border management in terms of manpower and financial requirements.

• Few segments of the border are highly porous and negotiable while some stretches of the border remain undemarcated. Large stretches of borders are political and do not follow well laid out geographical features and are based on artificial boundaries. Due to harsh terrain and climate, border remains physically unguarded at few places.  Many of the border areas have their own distinct cultural, ethnic, religious and tribal affiliations which extends on both sides of the border. A closed and secured border dividing such areas is bound to create a social and political traction and always remains a security threat. Such arrangements also give leverage to our western neighbor to support proxy war by exploiting this situation of religious affinity.

Government Initiatives.  

• To wean away border population from falling prey to illegal activities, the government initiated the Border Area Development Programme in 1987, which included the development of community-based infrastructure. Similarly, under Border Infrastructure and Management Scheme, security related infrastructure is being created along international borders. Technological solutions are being integrated with physical patrolling, especially in inaccessible and difficult areas. A Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) for India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh Border aims to integrate various resources deployed for border management for better command and control, improved response time to emerging security threat for effective border management operations.

• “Quadrangular Security Grid” and “Smart Border Security Project” is new initiative by the government to address border management more holistically through multi-layered framework by integrating activities of various stake holders including the BGFs to create an integrated, comprehensive security net exploiting technology solutions. To curb illegal cross-border movement through India-Bangladesh border, completion of the border fence is being undertaken on priority.  BGFs in conjunction state administration, Narcotics Control Bureau and Central Board of Direct Taxes will monitor illegal activities along the border. Second phase of Vibrant Villages Programme has been launched to create additional critical infrastructure in border areas. Initiative of establishing Integrated Check Posts (ICP) under Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) with state of art facilities that combines immigration, customs and security forces together, is a step in direction to facilitate smooth and secure passenger and trade movement across the border.

Way Forward

• Integrated Approach.       The management of border now encompasses border security, border infrastructure, economy, trade, border population and perception management and therefore should encompass coordination and cooperation among political establishment, diplomatic, security, intelligence, regulatory, legal and economic agencies. Every border is unique in respect of the challenges, requiring unique solutions. In view of these complexities, ensuring effective border management would require multi-faceted approach to address diplomatic, infrastructural, institutional and technological reforms.

• Boosting Border Infrastructure. There is an urgent need to accelerate construction of border roads, tunnels, bridges, helipads and advance landing air strips in remote and inaccessible areas. While Border Road Organisation (BRO) has been doing these challenging tasks, more urgency needs to be set in to fast pace ongoing projects. Alongside, communication networks and power supply needs to be put in place with adequate redundancy mechanisms.

• Harnessing Technology to Strengthen Border Guarding. Smart fencing in difficult terrain would enhance surveillance in absence of physical patrolling. Certain unfenced stretches along India- Pakistan and India- Bangladesh needs to be completed on priority and flood lighting in sensitive areas needs to be ensured. Use of drones/anti drones, UAVs, thermal imagers, aerostats and ground sensors should be integrated in border management operations. Ongoing CIBMS projects need to be expanded to more areas. Satellite imagery and exploiting AI analytical tools would be effective in assessing any changes along the borders. For efficient and effective verification process at border check posts, fingerprint/biometric scanning can be employed. Effective use of technology will have dual advantage, reduced manpower for border guarding and better quality of border surveillance.

• Community Participation.         Local community remains an important stakeholder in border management and integrating them in border management apparatus can help in making borders more secure. Through various government initiatives, there is need to address their requirements covering healthcare, education, communication network and employment, ensuring that they don’t fall prey to illegal activities. Vibrant Village Programme is a positive initiative from the Government but it needs to be implemented on ground with right earnest. Border population needs to be empowered as the nation’s primary line of defence.

• Capacity Building of BGFs.       The troops on the borders need to get trained in employing and harnessing emerging technology and associated equipment for better surveillance, intelligence gathering and information sharing on real time basis. Learning local language by the BGF troops would be an asset for integrating with local community. Improving administrative set up and living conditions of the troops would enhance morale and motivation of the troops.

• Addressing Challenge of Illegal Activities.    Integrated approach is required to counter illegal activities along the border areas to include cross border terrorism, arms and narcotics trade, human trafficking and fake currency. Strengthening of intelligence apparatus along with robust legal provisions and their implementation would deter such activities.

• Diplomatic Initiatives.     There is a need to enhance coordination with neighbors to address border management challenges and attempt to resolve outstanding bilateral issues ensuring borders remain peaceful. Disputed areas should be jointly patrolled as part of confidence building measures. Well established Standard Operating Procedures to deal with any misunderstanding at local levels would help in resolving security issues before they flare up to major security challenge.         

Conclusion

Despite numerous initiatives to mitigate border security threats, there is a constant requirement for the government to devise and upgrade border management capacity to realign to emerging threats and challenges.  Smart border management is the way forward. Border security strategy should graduate to technology enabled, integrated and development-oriented model backed with proactive diplomacy. Need of the hour is to walk the talk before we are overtaken by non-retractable consequences.