Border Security Issues Of India – A Multidimensional Threat To Our Sovereignty

Since our forefathers’ time, India’s borders have been understood and maintained. The international boundaries had the minor threat of terrorism and crime over it. However, nowadays, with all sorts of changing dynamics in each country and world conditions, such an ideal situation may not continue for eternity. The present scenario demands a new set of strategies to guard our borders and increase counter-terrorism measures to combat any activities that might be illegal or terrorist on the Border Security Issues of India.

Some Of The International Border Security Issue Of India That Will Be Discussed In This Article:

Demographic Changes:

One of India’s biggest problems is its neighbors having a different religion than Christianity and Hinduism. There are often differences in opinion, and these end up in violence. For this reason, the Indian Government is spending much of its money on building walls and dividers between India and other countries to maintain peace.

Terrorism:

Terrorism is one of the significant threats in the world today. The Indian Government is determined to combat this threat by adopting the so-called “twenty-first-century strategy,” which includes expanding facilities for training, undertaking joint military exercises with friendly countries, strengthening border controls, and intelligence sharing with foreign countries.

Environment:

One of the biggest problems that India faces due to its environment is that it has often been known to have a weak health care system due to poorly regulated industries. Because of environmental problems, people are forced to leave their residences and settle in other areas. This leads to a build-up of migration which terrorists then exploit as an easy way to penetrate the country.

Extradition:

India’s Extradition Treaty with the United States that America may extradite any person from India to any other country provided both countries have a signed extradition treaty. However, this treaty is not legally binding. If a terrorist manages to flee India, the Government has very few options for catching them alive or dead. Indian officials have tried negotiating with their counterparts in foreign countries for assistance, but there seems to be little progress on this issue so far.

“We will never let terrorism prevail.”

“We will not allow terrorists to take our land, our women, or our children.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2014):

The BJP Government has been developing the infrastructure it requires to counter terrorism. New customhouses have been constructed and upgraded, while new air-force bases and modern airports have been built. They have also asked for a dedicated counter-terrorism centre in the Home Ministry. This is to help monitor all activities involved in committing terrorist acts and curb them by utilizing their power as government entities. It also assists in gathering intelligence on potential attackers.

Another critical aspect of India’s counter-terrorism strategy is India’s border Security Issues. There are three major border Security Issues facing the country: terrorism, illegal trade, and cyber-attacks.

The Situation Of Terrorism Faced Mainly By The Indian Government Is Increasing Day By Day:

Various terrorist organizations like Indian Mujahedeen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed operate within India and plan multiple terrorist attacks in different parts of India. They also propagate their ideologies through social media, which poses a threat to national security and the internal stability of the Union. The Government has been tackling this threat by coordinating with its foreign counterparts. The Government of India has been in touch with the Government of Pakistan and demanded they take stern measures against all terrorist organizations operating on their soil.

One Of The Biggest Problems Concerning Border Security Issues Is Illegal Trade:

There have been rising instances of illegal trade along the borders of Bangladesh and Nepal. The Government has started setting up Border Out Posts (BOP) and Border Observation Stations (BOS). These are used to check all activities that may be unlawful on Indian soil. Also, a few BOP and BOS function as full-fledged customs posts. There is no doubt that cyber-attacks are becoming a bigger problem for the country than ever before. The Government of India is aware of this fact. So, they have been working hard to form a very robust cyber security policy.

Another Aspect To Be Kept In Mind Is The Politicization Of Terrorism:

This hurts foreign affairs as well as national security. It impedes practical counter-terrorism cooperation. The Indian Government has been trying to enact anti-terror legislation that includes provisions for meeting these concerns but has had little success. Therefore, new anti-terror legislation is necessary.

“… No country can manage the complexities of terrorists and terror acts by itself. Terrorism is a global phenomenon, and it cannot be dealt with on a national basis alone.”

“In the 21st century we are seeing the rise of terrorism: (we are experiencing) the rise of criminal networks and terrorist networks, which threatens to hurt our societies, de-legitimize our way of life; and undermine our very existence.” – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2017) On 25 June 2013, India successfully carried out an operation to neutralize two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists during an ambush in India’s northeastern state of Manipur. Indian security forces averted a major terrorist strike in the heart of the national capital, New Delhi. On 29 August 2013, India claimed to have foiled a possible terror attack.

On 15 October 2014, Narendra Modi Was Sworn In As India’s Prime Minister India:

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has asked all Indian citizens to maintain peace and harmony. He suggested not to help terrorists or terrorist organizations in any way. Modi ji had also stated that “terrorism will be fought at all costs” and that “no compromises will be made on this issue”. The Prime Minister has stressed the importance of development and security throughout his tenure and how they are both interrelated aspects that complement each other when acted upon correctly. He has also emphasized the importance of taking action against terror groups, such as Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, and not just being reactive to their attacks.

New Delhi is much safer than it was in 2013. However, there are still some problems. For example, Indian police are still facing a shortage of resources and workforce to deal with terrorism effectively. Moreover, recruitment of personnel from minority communities into the police force is low, and there is almost no recruitment from Muslim communities. In addition, India’s border security situation has also not been improving. There are rising instances of illegal trade along the borders with Bangladesh and Nepal, along with cyber-attacks becoming a bigger problem for the country than ever before.

Are Cyber Attacks a Problem For India?

Cyber-attacks are one of the biggest problems for India, though there are different opinions about it. Our Prime Minister has been very vocal about his views on cyber terrorism & cyber security. He has said, “Cyber security may be at the frontiers of our national security today”. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also stated that “cyber security, as a field, is a subject of new science”.

Since 2000, there have been 277 cyber-attacks on government and private sectors. The number of these cyber-attacks has increased dramatically since 2009. In 2015 alone, 46 detected incidents involved 1,325 organizations and led to the loss of revenue worth over the US $1 billion. However, many cyber-attacks do not come to the attention of authorities until later due to various reasons such as partial information leak or malicious code’s inability to propagate itself effectively. Several SCADA systems have also been compromised recently, with India being one of the main targets.

Conclusion:

India faces a complex array of security challenges in the form of internal terrorism and international terrorism. This has been evident in the terrorist attacks that have taken place recently. Domestic and international terrorism poses a significant threat to India’s national security. Therefore, areas such as cyber-security, border security, counter-terrorism, anti-terror legislation, and creating a peaceful society still need improvement. If India wants to deal with these issues successfully.

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Disclaimer:- Views expressed are the author’s own.