SOURCE: AFI
India, a nation with a rich history and diverse geography, shares volatile borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh—two neighbors with whom relations have often been strained. Over the decades, both countries have been accused of employing indirect conflict measures, including supporting insurgencies, facilitating illegal infiltration, and leveraging proxies to destabilize India and encroach upon its territory. These tactics, often subtle and deniable, pose a significant threat to India’s sovereignty and security. This article explores why India cannot afford to overlook these strategies and outlines aggressive border control measures, including the deportation of illegal immigrants, particularly from Bangladesh, to counter such plans.
Pakistan’s use of indirect conflict against India is well-documented. Since the partition in 1947, Pakistan has sought to challenge India’s control over Jammu and Kashmir, employing both conventional warfare and, more insidiously, support for terrorist groups and insurgencies. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has historically backed outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which have carried out attacks on Indian soil, from the 2001 Parliament attack to the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Beyond Kashmir, Pakistan has been linked to separatist movements in India’s northeast, using Bangladesh as a staging ground during its time as East Pakistan and even after its independence in 1971.
Bangladesh, while not as overtly hostile as Pakistan, has its own complex dynamic with India. The porous 4,096-kilometer border has facilitated illegal immigration, smuggling, and, at times, the harboring of anti-India elements. During periods of political instability—such as the pre-2009 era under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami—anti-India insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) found safe havens in Bangladeshi territory. Recent developments, including growing ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh’s interim government as of early 2025, have raised concerns about renewed collaboration against India. Reports of Pakistan establishing terrorist training camps near the Bangladesh border to target Assam underscore this emerging threat.
These indirect measures—terrorism, insurgency support, and illegal migration—serve a dual purpose: they weaken India internally while allowing both nations to claim plausible deniability. For Pakistan, it’s a continuation of its “bleed India with a thousand cuts” doctrine. For Bangladesh, instability and migration pressures indirectly erode India’s border security and demographic stability, particularly in states like Assam and West Bengal.
India cannot turn a blind eye to these strategies for several reasons:
Pakistan’s persistent attempts to destabilize Kashmir and the northeast, combined with Bangladesh’s role as a conduit for illegal crossings, threaten India’s territorial cohesion. The Siliguri Corridor, or “Chicken’s Neck,” a narrow strip connecting mainland India to its northeastern states, is particularly vulnerable. Any coordinated effort by Pakistan and Bangladesh to exploit this region could sever India’s access to the northeast.
The influx of illegal immigrants, some potentially radicalized or linked to extremist groups, poses a direct security risk. The bombings in Indian cities during the 1990s and 2000s often involved operatives crossing from Bangladesh, facilitated by porous borders. Today, with Pakistan reportedly training terrorists near Bangladesh, the threat looms larger.
Illegal immigration, especially from Bangladesh, has altered the demographic fabric of border states. Assam’s population growth, historically fueled by unchecked migration, has sparked ethnic tensions and fueled movements like the Assam Agitation. Estimates suggest 15-20 million illegal Bangladeshis reside in India, straining resources and igniting local resentment.
Pakistan and Bangladesh’s actions are not merely bilateral irritants but part of a broader geopolitical game. China, a mutual ally of both nations, benefits from a distracted India. Enhanced Pak-Bangla military ties, such as joint naval exercises or missile transfers, could embolden their indirect aggression, with Beijing’s tacit support.
To thwart these “evil plans,” India must adopt a multifaceted, assertive strategy centered on aggressive border control and targeted deportations. Here’s how:
- Fortify Border Security
India must complete and enhance its border fencing projects. While 3,141 kilometers of the India-Bangladesh border are fenced, gaps remain due to riverine terrain and land disputes. Similarly, the India-Pakistan border, particularly along the Line of Control (LoC), requires smarter fortifications. Deploying advanced technologies—drones, AI-powered surveillance, thermal imaging, and motion sensors—can plug vulnerabilities. The Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), already in use along parts of the Pakistan border, should be expanded to Bangladesh, with real-time monitoring and rapid-response units. - Crack Down on Illegal Immigration
Deporting illegal immigrants, especially from Bangladesh, is a critical step. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, finalized in 2019, identified 1.9 million people unable to prove citizenship—many suspected to be Bangladeshi infiltrators. India must streamline deportation processes, negotiating with Bangladesh’s interim government to accept returnees, even if Dhaka denies their citizenship. Simultaneously, stricter enforcement of the Foreigners Act, 1946, and punitive measures against those harboring illegals (e.g., fines and jail terms) can deter infiltration. - Enhance BSF Capabilities
The Border Security Force (BSF) must be empowered with greater manpower, firepower, and autonomy. Past incidents, like the 2001 BSF-BDR clash, highlight the need for a robust response to border provocations. Increasing BSF outposts, equipping them with anti-drone systems, and authorizing preemptive action against cross-border threats can send a strong message. - Target Smuggling and Trafficking Networks
Smuggling—of cattle, drugs, and arms—fuels cross-border crime and funds anti-India activities. Coordinated operations between the BSF, local police, and intelligence agencies can dismantle these networks. Seizing assets of traffickers and imposing harsh penalties will disrupt the economic incentives driving illegal crossings. - Diplomatic and Military Pressure
India should leverage its economic and military clout to dissuade Pakistan and Bangladesh from supporting indirect conflict. Warning Islamabad of retaliatory strikes—building on the precedent of the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot airstrike—can deter ISI activities. With Bangladesh, India can tie trade benefits and aid to cooperation on border security and deportation, pressuring Dhaka to rein in anti-India elements. - Public Awareness and Local Support
Engaging border communities is key. Locals often abet infiltration due to economic desperation or familial ties. Incentivizing vigilance—through rewards for reporting illegals—and integrating border villages into security frameworks can turn them into allies rather than enablers.
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