Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with Terrorism
Each of Indias borders has its own specific problems. Following is a brief description of the problem which afflicts various borders.
India-Bangladesh Border
* Instead of following natural barriers, it meanders through villages, agricultural lands, and rivers, rendering the border extremely porous with many disputed pockets. Undemarcated stretches, existence of enclaves, and adverse possessions have been causing constant friction between the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh.
* In 1974, three years after the liberation of Bangladesh, the then prime ministers of India and Bangladesh, Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman, inked an agreement to settle the land boundary issue. Inter alia, the Indira-Mujib Agreement laid down the methods for demarcating various disputed stretches of the India-Bangladesh boundary. India also promised to lease in perpetuity a 178 metres x 85 metres corridor, Tin Bigha to Bangladesh to connect Dahagram with Panbari Mouza. According to the agreement, the adverse possessions in areas already demarcated were to be exchanged within six months of the agreement.
* But even after so many years, the enclaves and adverse possessions have not been exchanged. At present, there are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 enclaves of Bangladesh in India. India does not have access to these enclaves in Bangladesh, and hence, no administrative set-up to provide facilities like police stations, courts, schools, roads, hospitals, banks, markets, etc. to their residents could be established
* A major consequence of a porous border is the ease with which it is crossed illegally. The trend of illegal migration from Bangladesh into India has continued since independence. This illegal migration has changed the demographic profile of many border states, which has resulted in separatist movements
* The porosity of the border also allows Indian insurgents to cross over to Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries for asylum
* Along with cattle, smuggling of arms, and other essential items such as sugar, salt and diesel, human and narcotics trafficking, counterfeit Indian currency, kidnapping, and thefts are quite rampant along the IndiaBangladesh border.
India-Nepal Border
* India and Nepal have shared an open border since 1950. The conception of such a border can be found in the Treaty of Peace and Friendship that the two countries signed that year. Provisions in the treaty, wherein citizens of both countries are given equal rights in matters of residence, acquisition of property, employment and movement in each others territory, provide for an open border between the two countries.
* The open border between the two countries has facilitated close social, cultural, and economic exchanges and led to a special relationship between the two countries. People from both countries are free to enter the others territory from any point on the border, while the movement of goods is allowed along 22 designated transit points.
* At the same time, it has given rise to many irritants and problems that raise serious concerns.
* There are many points of dispute along the Indo-Nepal border, mostly a result of the constantly shifting courses of the turbulent Himalayan rivers.
* Allegations of excesses such as intimidation, and forcible grabbing of land by either side along the disputed border also surface from time to time. The disputed border has created lots of unease not only between the two countries but also among their local populations.
* An open border allows easy egress to terrorists and insurgents. In the late 1980s, Sikh and Kashmiri terrorists sneaked into India via Nepal. In later years, many insurgent groups from the North East, such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), also misused the open border. In recent years, it has been reported that many terrorists have sneaked into India through the porous and poorly guarded Indo-Nepal border.
* Apart from insurgents and terrorists, many hard-core criminals pursued by Indian and Nepalese security forces escape across the open border.
* Unrestricted migration over the years has produced territorial pockets dominated by people originating from the other country.
Recent Terrorist Arrests and Solutions
* Recent arrests highlight the fact that terrorist and criminal groups are increasingly using Nepal as a base because the open border with India allows them to enter and exit India with ease. In addition, many hard-core criminals pursued by Indian law enforcement agencies escape into Nepal through the open border, where they set up smuggling gangs and criminal.
* The problem is further aggravated by intelligence inputs that Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been using Nepalese territory to carry out anti-India activities
* The open border between India and Nepal not only addressed mutual security considerations but also fostered close socio-economic relations between the two countries. The unrestricted flow of people over the years has resulted in the dissemination of ideas, culture, and settlements of people in each others territory thereby strengthening the bilateral social and cultural relations. The open border also has a favourable impact on two economies.
* Transforming the border from an open border to a closed border would severely damage socio-economic and cultural ties with disastrous consequences for the citizens and economies of both countries. It would therefore be prudent to keep the border open but manage it more effectively by strengthening security through effective law enforcement, installing screening and detection devices at the check points, and enhancing intelligence networks.
* Policymakers in India have taken note of the deteriorating security situation along the India-Nepal border and have undertaken a number of measures in response. For instance, the presence of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) along the Indo-Nepal border has been further augmented with the construction of five additional Border Out Posts (BOPs). In addition, 1,377 km. of strategic roads are also being built along the border to facilitate the easy movement of the border guarding personnel. The SSB is also installing surveillance cameras along the border.
* Following the arrests of the two terrorists, the Nepalese security agencies had conducted a study and identified 18 types of crimes that are widespread along the India-Nepal border including human, arms and drugs trafficking, unauthorised trade, smuggling of counterfeit currency, kidnapping, robbery, and extortion. They have also prepared and enforced a Cross-Border Crime Control Action Plan 2013 to curb trans-border crimes.
* But more needs to be done. India and Nepal have to collaborate and coordinate their efforts to improve the situation along their border by setting up joint task forces to investigate cross-border crimes, sharing real time intelligence, conducting coordinated or joint patrolling, re-installing missing border pillars and repairing the damaged ones and jointly developing infrastructure along the border.
Indo-Bhutan Border
* India and Bhutan share a 669 km long boundary. The boundary is demarcated except along the tri-junction with China. The process of demarcation of the India-Bhutan border started in 1961 and was completed in 2006. Like with Nepal, Indias boundary with Bhutan is also an open boundary.
* The border was peaceful till Indian insurgent groups such as the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) established camps in the southern districts of Bhutan. Taking advantage of the open border, these insurgents would sneak into Bhutan after carrying out extortions, killings and bomb blasts. This problem has been effectively dealt with during the Bhutanese governments Operation All Clear, which saw the destruction and uprooting of all insurgent camps in Bhutanese territory. However, stray insurgent incidents such as extortion and killings are still carried out by the surviving members of ULFA along the border areas. Smuggling and trafficking are also rampant along the border.
* Chinese made goods, Bhutanese cannabis, liquor and forest products are major items smuggled into India. Livestock, grocery items and fruits are smuggled out of India to Bhutan.
Indo-Myanmar Border
* The location of the Indo-Myanmar boundary throws up many challenges for the effective management of the boundary. Though the boundary is properly demarcated, there are a few pockets that are disputed.
* The rugged terrain makes movement and the overall development of the area difficult.
* There is practically no physical barrier along the border either in the form of fences or border outposts and roads to ensure strict vigil. Insurgents make use of the poorly guarded border and flee across when pursued by Indian security forces. Close ethnic ties among the tribes such as Nagas, Kukis, Chin, etc., who live astride the border help these insurgents in finding safe haven in Myanmar. These cross-border ethnic ties have facilitated in creation of safe havens for various Northeast insurgent groups in Myanmar.
* The location of the boundary at the edge of the golden triangle facilitates the unrestricted illegal flows of drugs into Indian territory. Heroin is the main item of drug trafficking. The bulk of heroin enters India through the border town of Moreh in Manipur.
* It is reported that the local insurgent groups are actively involved in drugs and arms trafficking. The smuggling of arms and ammunition, precious stones and Chinese made consumer items finds its way into India illegally.
* Human trafficking is also rampant along the border. The provision of allowing the tribal communities of both countries to travel up to 40 km across the border without any passport or visa has also contributed to increased smuggling in the region.
Indo-Pakistan Border
* India shares 3323 km long and complicated boundary with Pakistan. The India-Pakistan boundary is categorised under three different heads.
* The first is the international boundary also known as the Radcliff line. It is 2308 km long and stretches from Gujarat to parts of Jammu district in Jammu and Kashmir.
* The second is the line of control (LoC), or the Cease Fire Line, which came into existence after the 1948 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan. This line is 776 km long, and runs along the districts of Jammu (some parts), Rajouri, Poonch, Baramula, Kupwara, Kargil and some portions of Leh.
* And the third is the actual ground position line (AGPL), which is 110 km long and extends from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the North.
* The LoC and the AGPL has been a scene of constant tensions with border skirmishes and firing between the armies and border guarding forces of both countries. The LoC has been vulnerable to constant infiltration by foreign terrorists, Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani army regulars for long.
* Like the Bangladesh boundary, the India-Pakistan boundary also does not follow any geographical barrier making it extremely porous.
* Porosity of this border has facilitated various illegal activities such as smuggling, drugs and arms trafficking, and infiltration. Heroin and fake Indian currency are the two predominant items of smuggling along this border. Other items include saffron, textile, mercury, which are smuggled from Pakistan.
* Money laundering is also quite rampant along the border. A large scale hawala network is flourishing in Punjab, especially in Ludhiana. In addition, the border population has also been subjected to hostile propaganda by Pakistan designed to mislead and sway their loyalties.
* The Sir Creek area, due to its peculiar terrain, makes the movement of border guarding forces very difficult and thus, provides scope for illegal fishing in the creeks.
India-China Border
* India and China share a 3,488 km long boundary. Unfortunately, the entire boundary is disputed. The line, which delineates the boundary between the two countries, is popularly called the McMahon line, after its author Sir Henry McMahon.
* In 1913, the British-India government had called a tripartite conference, in which the boundary between India and Tibet was formalised after a discussion between the Indian and the Tibetan plenipotentiaries. A Convention was adopted on April 27, 1914, which resulted in the delimitation of the Indo-Tibetan boundary. This boundary is, however, disputed by China which terms it as illegal
* India and China had never shared a common boundary till, China liberated Tibet in 1950. It was then that the hitherto India-Tibet boundary was transformed into an India-China boundary. Since 1954, China started claiming large tracts of territory along the entire border such as Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir, Bara Hoti, Sanchamala and Lapthal in Uttarakhand and the entire Arunachal Pradesh. In 1957, China occupied Aksai Chin and built a road through it. This episode was followed by intermittent clashes along the border, which finally culminated in the border war of 1962. The boundary, which came into existence after the war, came to be known as Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is a military held line.
* As regards border management, the India-China border throws up only a few challenges. The Himalayan range which lies astride the boundary has prevented any large scale trans-border interactions between people residing on either side of the border.
* Presently, there are only three designated areas along the India-China border through which border trade takes place; these are LipuLekh, Shipki La and Nathu La. The volume of trade in these trading points is not large. However, large scale smuggling of Chinese electronic and other consumer goods take place through these border points.
Challenges to Coastal Security and Island Territories
* In addition to the land boundaries, India also has a coastline of 7516.6 km. The coastline is highly indented with numerous creeks, rivulets and streams. These water channels, most of which are interconnected and run deep inside the land, render the coastline porous and hence vulnerable to cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and arms and drugs trafficking.
* In recent years, the use of sea by terrorists to carry out attacks as was seen during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the November 2008 attack on Mumbai, have also added a new dimension to the vulnerability of the coastline. The matter is made worse by the existence of several high value targets such as oil refineries, atomic power plants, space stations, ports and naval bases along the coastline.
* There are growing worries about nonconventional threats as well as terrorist attacks, sabotage, etc., which could potentially inflict massive damage. For example, if terrorists were to attack a very large crude carrier carrying several million barrels of crude oil and seriously damage it resulting in a massive oil spill, the environmental and economic losses would be immense. It would not only lead to the destruction of marine life in the affected area but also disrupt maritime traffic.
* Straying of both Indian and Pakistani fishermen into each others territorial waters and their subsequent arrests has also been a perennial source of concern. It is feared that some at least of the arrested fishermen could be recruited by Pakistans Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and used as agents against India and use their boats to sneak in arms, explosives and operatives into India.
* India also has Island Territories in its eastern and western seaboards viz. Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The nature and location of these Island Territories necessitate their proper security. Andaman and Nicobar comprise 572 islands, but only 36 of them are inhabited, whereas ten of the 36 islands of Lakshadweep archipelago are inhabited. Their strategic location, i.e. proximity to the important Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) and Southeast Asian and African countries coupled with considerable distance from the mainland add to the Island Territories vulnerabilities.
* In addition, instances of piracy in the Malacca straits have increased manifold. Internal disturbances in Indias neighbouring littoral countries also make the security scenario of the Island territories extremely grim.
* The Andaman and Nicobar islands have seen large scale influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Tamils) Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. Besides, the Indian Ocean has been a theatre of intense rivalries between great powers, mostly extraregional powers.
* China, in recent years has been quite active in the Indian Ocean region. With an objective to contain its potential adversary (read India) in the region, China has helped Myanmar to construct a naval base at Haingyi and set up listening posts in Coco Island, close to Andaman and Nicobar. It has also helped Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to built ports, which could be utilised by China during adverse times.
Initiatives
* The management of India's international border along has remained a crucial and complex issue.
* The need for guarding these boundaries, especially the 4,096 kilometre long Indo-Bangladesh border, was felt in the mid 1980s. Fencing of the Bangladesh border was then commissioned as a potential mechanism of defending the peace and tranquillity of the North Eastern states.
* The presence of militant outfits in most of the North Eastern States and their ability to indulge in hit and run operations across borders has only added to the complexities, both in inter-state and intra-state relations. Most states in the North East have witnessed growing incidence of substance abuse. Drugs, with their origin in Southeast Asian countries, invariably find their way into the region from Myanmar, through states like Mizoram and Manipur. Apart from the unhindered migration severely impacting the demography of the North East, militant outfits operating in the region have been the prime beneficiaries of the porous and unguarded borders.
* The Indian Government has a Department of Border Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to pay focused attention to issues relating to border management. For the department, in addition to the 3,323 kilometre-long Indo-Pakistan border, fencing of the Indo-Bangladesh border has been accorded top priority in view of infiltration, smuggling and other anti-India activities from across the border.
* Beginning in 2001, different border guarding forces were deployed in different borders. The BSF has been assigned responsibility for the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, Assam Rifles (AR) for the India-Myanmar border, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the India-China border, and the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) for the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders
* Fencing the border with Bangladesh has progressed at a slow pace. According to the MHA, the 854 kilometre fence built in Phase-I has, however, already been damaged along most of the stretches and has consequently ceased to be effective in controlling illegal cross border activities.
* Quality of fencing in the North East has remained a problem. The fact that there has been no proposal to introduce flood light system like along the Western borders makes the militants' task even less cumbersome. Neither has there been any proposal to settle friendly population along the fencing as a second line of defence.
* Fencing along India's western borders has been relatively effective, curbing the movement of militants and activities of smugglers and subversives. Even in the North East, fencing, wherever it exists, has been able to contain the movement of militants and contraband. Smuggling in Tripura has been contained to a large extent as a result of the continuing fencing process.
* Another step to prevent illegal migration is to prepare a national register and issue multi purpose identity cards. However, the implementation has been slow due to various issues.
* For providing better facilities to legal movement of passengers and goods across the borders, the Government of India had decided to construct Integrated Check Posts (ICPs)
Coastal Security
* Major ports of the country have been made International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code compliant. These ports are guarded by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel
* For securing the coast, the government of India has implemented a three layered mechanism. At the outermost layer, the Indian Navy patrols the high seas and carries out aerial reconnaissance with ship-based aircraft. The intermediate layer comprising of the Exclusive Economic Zone (between 12 and 200 nautical miles) is patrolled by the Coast Guard. And the territorial waters are patrolled by the Coastal Police. On the recommendation of the Task Force, the Indian government launched the coastal security scheme in 2005-06. However, coastal police stations often do not have adequate trained manpower, nor sophisticated arms or patrol boats
* Following the Mumbai terror attacks, the government has also announced a series of measures for strengthening coastal security of the country. These include:
* expediting the implementation of coastal security scheme
* speedy delivery of interceptor boats,
* easing of environmental norms for setting up coastal police stations,
* issuance of multi-purpose identity cards to all fishermen, seafaring personnel and coastal villages,
* implementation of uniform licensing of fishing boats across the country,
* installation of special transponders and Global Positioning System on registered boats for identification and tracking,
* deployment of commando units of Central Industrial Security Force in all ports,
* constituting unified command for coastal districts to counter terrorist threats from
Solutions
* It can be said without doubt that one area where the government needs to focus more is on centre-state relations. Most of the problems of implementation of any plan or programme stem from their mutually divergent perceptions and hence uncooperative attitude towards each other
* One of the factors of vital importance for border management is to have a well trained and dedicated border guarding force, which also has warm and friendly relations with the local population. Presently, it is observed that Government does not have a robust holistic training programme for the border guarding personnel, which is necessary for sensitising the security personnel towards the cultural nuances of every border area and help elicit better cooperation from the local population
* Besides, there are many hotspots along these borders whose inherent socio-cultural and political dynamics could throw up serious challenges for border management in future. Some of these are Moreh along the Indo-Myanmar border, the Siliguri corridor along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders and Sir Creek area along the Indo-Pakistan border
* Identify sensitive areas along the border and increase the number of border posts in these areas. Also augment the strength of the border guarding personnel in sensitive border out posts.
* Ensure better coordination among all agencies involved in border management such as the border guarding forces, Customs, intelligence agencies, and state police.
* Sensitise the people living along the borders and encourage them to work as eyes and ears for the border guarding forces.
* Issue multipurpose identity cards to the people residing along the borders to distinguish between Indian citizens and illegal migrants.
* Work towards all round development of the border areas to wean away the border people from illegal activities as well as to dispel the feeling of alienation in them.
* Ensure greater participation of the border population in their economic development
* Strengthen bilateral mechanisms by frequently convening meetings of concerned officials to iron out tensions as well as to resolve border disputes.
Suggestions for Coastal Security
* As far as coastal security is concerned, while the government has initiated a number of schemes to safeguard the creek and coastal areas, many areas of concern still remain. A major challenge for the border guarding forces is the widening gap between the sanctioned and existing infrastructure and manpower. Delays in the release of funds by the government hinder their efforts to strengthen their capabilities.
* Address manpower shortage for the coastal police by recruiting retired Coast Guard and Navy personnel.
* Enlist people from coastal villages in the Coastal Police Force. Their seafaring experience is likely to be an asset.
* Consider incentives such as special allowances and insurance to overcome the reluctance of police personnel to carry out coastal patrolling.
* Impart extensive and specialised training to the Coastal Police personnel to change their indifferent attitude towards coastal security.
* Impose steep fines on fishermen found violating the international boundary. On repeated violation, cancel the licences of offending fishing boats
How is organised crime in India reinforcing terrorism? What are the linkages especially with regard to terror funding?
* Crime and terrorism can potentially have a very close linkage. While there may or may not always be a linkage between the two, however, both international case studies and those in India do point towards it.
* If we look at some of the regions in the country affected by terrorism, this linkage becomes apparent. In the Northeast, extortion is the fundamental basis for funding all forms of terrorism. In addition to this, kidnapping has been used extensively for spreading terror and raising funds. Human trafficking, drug trafficking and gun running are some of the other criminal activities that have been common in these areas.
* In J&K, counterfeit currency has been a major source of funding terrorism.
* In the Maoist terror movements, extortion is yet again a common phenomenon. They have also indulged in robberies of banks to fund their movement. There have also been reports of cuts being enforced on drug yielding crops in the region.
* The Indian Mujahideen has also resorted to crime to raise funds. This includes robberies, kidnappings, etc.
* There are also a number of insurgent groups which over a period of time have morphed into crime syndicates. What began as an ideological movement is now merely a means of generating profit. This is especially the case with insurgent groups in Northeast India.
Organized Crime and Terrorism (International Scenario)
* In the post 9/11 era, the United States has exerted considerable pressure on states to prevent charities from funding terrorists, and has cracked down on both governments and charitable organizations that have yet to stop such activities. Over 100 countries are cooperating in the global war on terrorism, and are trying to close down sources of terrorist funding. To replace this revenue and the financial support from states that are now unable or unwilling to back them, terrorist groups look elsewhere for financing.
* This crackdown on terrorist financing has led some terrorists to transform their organizations by creating in-house criminal capabilities in order to generate revenue; these units then engage organized crime groups to meet financial and operational needs.
* The expanding forces of globalization are enabling transformation and convergence through rapid communication, travel, surveillance, and information access. The growth of weak or failing states exacerbates this tendency. The absence of the rule of law in places such as Somalia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan provides ideal conditions for the blending of criminal and terrorist activities
* The nexus between terrorism and organized crime is further enabled through the widespread availability of small and light arms that can be both trafficked for money or used in operations.
* The above trends have led groups such as al Qaeda and Hezbollah to develop their own in-house criminal capabilities. While Hezbollah has been involved with methamphetamine labs and cigarette smuggling in the United States and Canada, al Qaeda has well-developed connections with criminal syndicates in Central Asia that include Pakistani and Afghani opium traffickers.
* Maritime piracy represents an area where the mixing of militant Islamic terrorism and crime can converge with potentially severe consequences for global military and economic security. Given heavy concentrations of al Qaeda cells and radical Islamic sympathizers, shipping lanes and pre-existing criminality, it comes as no surprise that Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and Nigeria experience most of the worlds maritime piracy attacks.
* The narcotics industry remains the most common and lucrative source of revenue to terrorists groups. Narcotics remains the most common and most lucrative form of organized crime used by terrorists groups such as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), al Qaeda, and Hezbollah. In addition, terrorist groups participate in other forms of crime ranging from petty theft to the mining and distribution of conflict diamonds in AfricaThe dramatic spike in opium cultivation in Afghanistan over the years provides yet more evidence of the terrorism-narcotics nexus.
* Both organized crime and terrorist groups run in the same circlesthey already operate outside of the law and they often need the same re-sources, including: false identification, shipping documents, operators, transportation networks, and counter-surveillance techniques. Terrorist groups just beginning to develop their own revenue generation enterprises often come into contact (sometimes hostile) with criminal elements who generally have reliable revenue streams.
* Terror groups have embraced (either by choice or necessity) a long-stand-ing structural feature of organized crime: working through affiliated op-erational cells which have minimal connections to the leadership. Loosely networked cell structures effectively frustrate law enforcement and intelli-gence penetration. This structure also enables tremendous operational flex-ibility, in stark contrast to the rigidity characteristic of governmental law enforcement and intelligence forces. This flexibility allows terrorist and organized crime groups to set up or close down operations overnight, maintain distance between operational and planning cells, move and use financial resources quickly and secretively, and make decisions without headquarters approval. This distribution of power and authority also re-duces the possibility of a decapitating strike that could close down the organization
* While criminal and terrorist groups do appear to be moving closer together and have shared strategies, tactics, and resources, significant roadblocks to further cooperation exist. There remain cultural, operational, and practical differences between the two groups. No organized crime group is built around adherence to religious or ideological tenets, while groups like al-Qaeda or Hamas are fundamentally based on religious beliefs and motiva-tions. While ideology, religion and politics form the basis of many terrorist organizations, pure profit is what drives criminal organizations.
* In theory, as the two threats cooperate or mimic each other, it should be helpful for governments to use the lessons learned from fighting each type of organization. In reality, though, the threats are changing daily and both organized crime and terrorist groups are learning from past mistakes while probing recent defenses erected by targeted nations
* In theory, as the two threats cooperate or mimic each other, it should be helpful for governments to use the lessons learned from fighting each type of organization. In reality, though, the threats are changing daily and both organized crime and terrorist groups are learning from past mistakes while probing recent defenses erected by targeted nations
Name Abhishek Sharma
Source www.idsa.in
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