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National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval waves to the gathering during the 21st Border Security Force (BSF) Investiture Ceremony and Rustamji Memorial Lecture, in New Delhi on May 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said on May 24 that the undefined borders in the west and north have adversely affected the country and its weight on internal security in terms of terrorism, radicalism, drug trafficking is a liability for the nation. He said India’s economic progress would have been much faster “if we had more secure borders.”
Mr. Doval was addressing the Investiture ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF).
India shares an undefined border with China in the north, while a large area has been occupied by Pakistan in the west.
“If both our borders, in north and west had been defined and not in state of adversarial disposition, …India’s economic progress would have been much faster if we had more secure borders and in future I don’t think that our borders are going to be as secure as we will require for our fast economic growth, so the responsibility of border guarding force becomes very very heavy. They have got to remain alert 24/7 alert and got to see that our national interests are protected,” he said adding that in the next 10 years India will be a $10 trillion economy and will become self-reliant in military power.
“Borders are important because that is the limit which defines our sovereignty. Up to the last point where our border soldier is able to go and put his foot down, that is the limit of our sovereignty, zameen par jo kabja hai wo apna hai, baaki sab adalat aur kacheri ka kaam hai, usse fark nahin padta (what matters are the areas where we can establish our claim physically, else is paper work).
“We got to see whether the border on northern or western side, they not only determine the limits of our sovereignty, not only important for our territorial integrity, they also have an impact on our internal security and stability,” the NSA said.
He added, “border security also has a bearing on socio-economic security of the country such as the coming of radicalisation, we have large number of Rohingyas coming here, people from Arakan (Myanmar) area are coming and sometimes due to religious and travel affinity (in India) they have socio-political implications.”
Stressing on the need for technological advancements in border management he said that mere increasing the strength of the force was not enough and technological advancement was required. Mr. Doval said that lesser the manpower, greater the opportunity for round the clock reliable systems. “If you are scattered on the ground, response capability is less, you have better quality sensors, remote sensing technology etc, you will be able to respond better,” he said.
Pointing out to the recent missile strike on Israel, the NSA said, “There was a series of missile attacks on Israel three days back from Iran. That is no news. Out of 1500 missiles, 99% were stopped, only 2-3 missiles that could hit, that is the strength of technology. Had they put large number of persons to prevent the strike through aircrafts etc, instead of radar, anti sabotage…they harnessed the technology and that is why they were so effective.”
He said that infrastructure development should be specific to theatres and roads, mobile tower should be built but every theatre has got its unique challenge. Tactical intelligence is the most important, he said.
“Where did the Israelis fail on October 7 (2023). There cutting edge intelligence on the border was zero. They could not distinguish that thousands of Hamas people are going to infiltrate. They had all the high technology, we are fortunate that we have so many eyes and can monitor the border. We have got an interface with our villagers, they are the store-house of knowledge, security of the nation is not only writing analysis, it has to be translated on the ground. Get feedback from the ground….Please befriend the border population, as Chanakya said you can never defend the border where population is hostile to you. They should not feel that these people in uniform are there to police and control them,” he said.
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