Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar border. Also, discuss the steps to counter the challenges.

Challenges faced by these forces:

1. Porous borders => There are no border wires in borders with Bangladesh, Nepal due to Inter-government agreements.

2. Soft gaps => Forests, rivers cut across borders of India where security forces cannot be deployed, thus security gaps remained.

3. Border disputes => with Pakistan, Nepal, China primarily => No settled borders.

4. Multiple forces involved => Mixture of forces deployed and not just one - BSF or army. There are operational control and administrative control issues.

5. Lack of infrastructure => borders lack infrastructure / modern techniques for surveillance. Roads are not built adequately.

6. No clear responsibility - Jurisdiction of Coast Guards and Navy often overlap.

7. Coastal boundaries are not clearly demarcated => Maritime boundaries cannot be drawn therefore many areas remain unregulated.

Way forward

Naresh Chandra committee and Shekatkar committee's recommendations must be adopted:

1. Clear responsibility to each force => ONE BORDER ONE FORCE.
2. Equip them with state of the art technology.
3. Political will to negotiate and resolve border issues.
4. Infrastructure = roads, tunnels etc. for faster mobility of forces.