Homeland Security

Terrorist Attacks and Our Border Management
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Issue Net Edition | Date : 21 Sep , 2016

A group of Jaish-e-Mohammad fidayeens attacked an Indian infantry installation at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir at the wee hours on 18th Sept 2016 in which 17 Army jawans were killed and 19 others left critically injured. The four attackers were, however, also neutralized by the armed forces in the counter operation. The initial reports of Uri attacks suggests that these terrorists had infiltrated to India from PoK .

Every time there is a terrorist attack, we hear loud clamors for retributive action against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in India. But amidst all these hullabaloo, the first and foremost issue of devising new preventive measures somehow loses of its sight.

The terrorist attacks are not new to India and it occurs with a monotonous regularity. In the current geo-political circumstances, there is not much hope of its reduction in any time near. However, our collective response to terrorist attacks is cliché ridden, repetitive and pathetic sometimes. The usual condemnations, evidences of Pakistan’s hand, intelligence failure, martyrdom, and xenophobic outbursts would fill the space of social media and newspapers on subsequent days and then it will be business as usual.

Every time there is a terrorist attack, we hear loud clamors for retributive action against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in India. But amidst all these hullabaloo, the first and foremost issue of devising new preventive measures somehow loses of its sight. Where are the tactical rethinking and course correction to counter this?

It is a settled position that we have failed to guard our borders as effectively as it should have been. We have rather allowed dark spots and passages in our observation system used by enemy forces to infiltrate in the country. The infiltration of terrorists into the Indian soil is our own structural failure and there is no point of blaming Pakistan for it. These terrorists should have been shot down the moment they had stepped into the Indian territory. We, not the Pakistan, allowed them to sneak in, reach upto the Army camp and launch the attack.

The Indian borders can be said to be one of the most vulnerable in the world so far as the infiltration and smuggling are concerned. Even the barbed wire fencings are breached with remarkable ease and impunity. A video was recently viral on social media as to how the cattle are lifted over the wire fence with the help of lever, pulley and bamboos and smuggled to Bangladesh.

The LOC does not have any watch towers or standard border outposts as is the case with international borders. Here both the Army and the BSF stay inside the bunkers and try to observe any suspicious movement on the LOC by using day night binoculors.

India has two types of boundaries with Pakistan. One is ‘international border’ that runs from Jammu sector to Punjab up to Rajasthan. The international border with Pakistan is guarded by Border Security Force (BSF) for which they have certain norms and scales of locating the border outposts, watch towers, observation posts and patrolling etc.. Another is the ‘Line of Control’ LOC) between PoK and J&K which has a mixed deployment of Army and BSF under the operational command of Army. This type of dual responsibility of controlling infiltration has its own operational constraints. The BSF is only about 20% of the total deployment along the LOC and the rest is Army. The BSF takes orders from Army at LOC, something the officers of the BSF are quite peeved about.

The LOC does not have any watch towers or standard border outposts as is the case with international borders. Here both the Army and the BSF stay inside the bunkers and try to observe any suspicious movement on the LOC by using day night binoculors. Obviously, a bunker will not have that much of the ‘arc of vision’ as one can get while being atop a watch tower/ observation post. There is no fencing at LOC except some improvised arrangements at some sectors. The LOC runs through the hills, rivers and forests and has many gaps and dark areas that infiltrators can safely take advantage of

Israel is supposed to have the best border protection system in the world and it relies more on technology than the manpower. Israeli border protection system has a state of the art long-range day cameras with night observation systems, third generation thermal imagers, long-range detection radars, electronic touch and motion sensors on the fence as well as underground sensors to detect any attempt of digging tunnels. They also have a wonderful system of electronic pulse that runs through the fence, setting off an alarm on contact that will allow security guards to spot the exact point of attempted infiltration.

Israeli system also uses sandy surface near the border find the footprints of the infiltrators. Besides in order to cover the dark areas, Israeli system uses ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’ (UAV), an aircraft with no pilot on board, remote controlled by a pilot at a ground control station which can also fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans.

There are ways and means to tackle the issue of infiltration if there is a political and administrative will to do so.

The United State of America has long been fighting the menace of cross border trafficking and drug smuggling from Mexico. Sometimes back in Texas, the Governor had set up multiple web cameras along the border. The entire length of border could be seen online by the ordinary citizens who could alert the border guarding agency of any suspicious movement. It was a pilot project of citizens participation in guarding the border and was a huge success.

The USA also has towers with surveillance turrets strung across Arizona border which communicate coordinates and images of moving figures to remote centers and to the laptops of border patrol vehicles. Further under “Project 28,” the Department of Homeland Security tested the viability of a “virtual fence” as an alternative to the fencing across the southwestern border. The radar towers had turrets to identify any movements and could help fill in the gaps in the physical wall.

There are ways and means to tackle the issue of infiltration if there is a political and administrative will to do so. We can study the best practices of the world and find a customized solution for our borders. This is the top most priority and action starts now. But many of the new measures would involve import of technology and hardware from abroad.

The approach to border management in India is far too bureaucratic rudimentary and unimaginative. It requires a cohesive and well synchronized plan…

The post Bofors era has witnessed serious obstacles in Government procurement and any officer taking a new initiative involving procurement is looked upon with suspicion. The procedure is so lengthy and cumbersome involving endless queries of different babus, approval of norms/ scale, specifications, field trials, CVC guidelines, financial rules and so on that even the most spirited team of officers would get frustrated. Then there is whirlpool of malpractices and corruptions associated and rampant particularly in the realm of foreign procurement.

The approach to border management in India is far too bureaucratic rudimentary and unimaginative. It requires a cohesive and well synchronized plan involving all stakeholders for technological modernization of the border management. This country cannot live with the guilt on its conscience of letting down our armed forces. The bureaucracy and political class must get over their perennial anxiety of the next promotion and the next election. The task of the nation building ranks much above the individual ambitions.

This is the hour of truth for the nation and it remains to be seen whether we are able to guard the country for the next generation the same way our previous generation had won the independence for us. This will be only true homage to our brave soldiers who laid down their lives for our motherland.

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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Rakesh Kr Sinha

Former DIG and is associate member of Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). Presently Special Advisor to the Chief Minister, Govt of NCT of Delhi.

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11 thoughts on “Terrorist Attacks and Our Border Management

  1. We need to protect our borders that’s it . Protecting the border is the only solution to Kashmir issue. Once you stop the infiltration by any kind from borders both parties will get frustrated)Pakistan & Kashmiri Separatists ) .

    Dont mention PAKISTANT did the uri attack just mention this internationally and say we will protect our borders by any cost. How to safe guard the borders we have enough young and talented people in Defense and they can analyze and take a call for the same. I have mentioned use of Technology is the solution to protect our borders.
    There be possibility that use of technology will be limited to apply but have we analyzed it or checked with other countries . If not why cant we do the research and developed it in India with the help of any country like US, Israel .
    SAFE GURD the border and enemies will definitely gets frustrated and will try to start a war and that’s when we have to crush them and buried them.

    I have read about how Israel protect their borders with the use of technology with very less human patrolling.
    we know in Kashmir we have high terrain and long border with PAKISTAN however with the use of technology where human patrolling is risking will help to stop the cross border infiltrations.this is the time when we should spend money to get the required equipment from Israel and from other international countries .
    Do the analysis which country has the type of equipment like radar , night vision cameras(long distance),Thermal imaging cameras(longdistance),Wire with sensors and analyze if it is useful for us and at which point. We just need to analyze what are available in world and implement as soon as possible.

    the reason is why do we need this is that a need of a hour.
    1. Where we cant stop Pakistan fro proxy wars and
    2. we cant rely on help from the local people living in Kashmir.
    3 War is not the solution as it will have impact on India’s economy as Pakisan don’t care about their economy as they don’t have any ambitions.

  2. I feel that war is not realistic option because of bloodshed and huge loss of life. We have to protect our border from our enemy by alternative means.

    (1) We should have TIME BOUND ROAD MAP to neutralize our enemy and implement the same. It will take some time but we have to do it. We need determination and patience like United States. For example attack on United States took place on 11th Sept 2001. But after a long time on 2nd May 2011 , Laden was killed by US.

    (2) We have to modernize our border surveillance by proper planning, coordination with different units with technological aids.

    (3) The border may be segregated in different zones with long range day/night cameras at strategic locations. The cameras may be monitored from control centers of each zone. Other technical gadgets like Drones/UAV as required should be used at difficult terrain. Our corporate sector/technocrats should be involved for planning proper technical solution.

    (4) THE COST FOR BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE TO BE SPEND BY US FOR PERMANENT SOLUTION. We are buying big tanks, costly fighter jets etc. which have no use except during full scale war. This Govt. should look into the border management at LOC.

  3. 1-Infiltrators are Pakistani national
    2-They are being given hard military training by Pakistan Army
    3-They live and take breakfasts, lunchs, dinners in pakistani military camps and infiltrate during LOC cease fire violations.

    so its shameful to say them terrorists, they are more than Pakistani soldiers achieving their goals in cost effect manner. Wake up India and its high time 1971

  4. Owing to the difficulty in mountainous terrain, technical solutions suitable for Indian scenario may be planned to assist our security forces to the extent possible. Hope our Govt will take necessary steps to modernise our security forces as required to stop any infiltration by enemies.

    • This requires a committed, technically competent team of civil and army officials to carry out a survey of the LoC and suggest the customised solution. I will call upon the Govt of India to constitute a task force to execute this within the timeline.

  5. Its impossible to give 100% cover on the LOC. The terrain defeats all efforts of the type used in Israel and USA. It has to be patrolled physically and a very exacting and tedious job. We need more of long range thermal imaging, and aerial thermal mapping of the area. Its a difficult job, there will be intrusions, its how best you can handle them matters. The Govt needs to increase the defence budget. Our troops live in pathetic conditions. Our military establishment are all housed in temporary buildings of the shabby kind. A lot of it is self help stuff. Its pretty shamefull the way we treat our forces. Somebody has to wake up on these issues.

  6. india is a land ruled from lutyens delhi by illetrate vote bank politics with aentrenched bureucracy highly politicised and hand in glove with corrupt politicians . repeted attacks have not changed the defunct higher defence organisation of this country controlled by chor mantris , babus police pandus . the armed forces leadership is sidelined or made irrelevant . The uri attack is the direct retribution of such incompetant state of affairs .17 years after kargill the infantry solders combat clothing , bullet proof helmets jackets , rifles pistols carbines lmgs sniper rifles antimaterial rifles new gen swedish rcket launchers gen 4 night vision devices are no ware in sight . URI BEING 6KMS AWAY FROM LOC MANY BATTALLION CDRS BRIG CDRS DIV CDRS WOULD HAVE SENT PROPOSALS FOR TV IR LASER ELCTRONIC FENCE SENSORS , EMBEDDED DEVICES . THE FILES FORWARDED BY CORP AND ARMY CDRS TO NHQ LIE ROTTING IN DIRTY OFFICES OF MOD MOD FINANCE AND FINANCE MINSTRY WITH NO ACCOUNTABILTY OF THE BABUS . THE DEGRADED OFFICERS SOLDERS BY 7TH PAY COMMISSION AWARD AND THOSE PROCEEDING FOR RETIREMENT UNHAPPY AND DEFILED WERE THOROUGHLY DEMORALISED AND SLEPT OFF WHILST THE TERRISTS CUT FENCES AND ATTACKED . FIERCE ALSATION DOBERMAN BELGIAN MELENO DOGS WITH SENTRIES PERHAPS COULD HAVE STOPPED THE ATTACK . SENTRIES ON MAACHHAANS WITH NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE INVADERS . A DEMORALISED DEGRADED ARMY WITH DOGRA AND BIHAR REGIMENT SOLDERS PAID A HEAVY PRICE . THE ACCOUNTABILTY OF BATTALLION CDRS SECTION PLATOON CDRS DUTY JCOS MUST BE FIXED AND SACKINGS DONE . THE BRIGADE AND DIV CDR NEED TO BE SACKED FOR LOSS OF LIVES . THE SECTION OFFICERS UNDERSECRATRIES DEPUTY JOINT ADDITIONAL SECT IN MOD MUST BE FIXED FOR SITTING FOR 17 YEARS ON FILE . THE NAMES OF THE DEFENCE SECRATARIES NOT RECOMMENDING URGENT REQUIREMENTS TOGETHER WITH FINANCE AND OTHER BABUS WHO HAVE PUT SPOKES IN PRECAUREMENT AND POLITICIANS WHO WITHHELD AQUISITIONS MUST BE NAMED AND SHAMED . THE NATION MUST KNOW THE TRAITORS OF INDIA AND ITS SOLDERS WHO DIED

  7. I think author has rightly pointed out the need for border management with technological aids. However the technical details for implementation of such systems needs to be evaluated by Scientists & Technologists.

  8. The writer seems thoroughly confused on what exactly is the point he is making except for a vague hint that our border as well as LoC isn’t as much techno gadgetry fitted as the border between US and Mexico. You don’t need an Idsa expert to tell it. It is already well known. What is expected of him as an Idsa expert is to analyse and convey whether the US techno rich model can be replicated along the LoC inspite of the different terrains and the divergent nature of threats of crossing in the two cases. He hasn’t touched on any of these aspects expected of his expertise and has concluded the article with two sentences that are nothing but platitudes.

    • This article broadly attempted to flag the need for the technological upgradation at the LoC and the babudom in Govt of India coming in the way of it. The examples of Mexico or Israel border cited are only illustrative. There was no intention of giving any QR of a gadget to be used at LoC. This has to be done by the local commanders and experts dealing with defence procurement.

  9. DIG Rakesh Kr Sinha, you are a silly and a stupid. They were pakistani Army attacked Indian soils. Were they not Pakistani Nationals, were they not tools of Pakistani army and paid of ISI. shame on you. Dont astray Indian nation.

    We need action and repeat 1971. You better know how Pakistani is Weak due to its internal conflicts . Dont use word ” Terrorist” in future

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