New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that India aims to achieve complete security along its major borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh within the next two years. Efforts are currently underway to address vulnerabilities in a 60 km stretch along these borders. Shah made these remarks during the Border Security Force’s 59th Raising Day celebrations, where he took the salute from a ceremonial parade.
Shah highlighted the successes of the Narendra Modi government, underscoring that in the past nine years of its leadership, over 560 kilometers of fencing have been erected, and weaknesses have been tackled along the borders of India with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
He added that there are ongoing efforts to seal all gaps along the borders in India’s western and eastern regions, focusing specifically on a 60-kilometer stretch.
In the coming two years, Shah declared that there will be comprehensive security measures implemented along these two borders. The India-Pakistan International Border spans 2,290 km, and the India-Bangladesh border covers 4,096 km. These borders consist of challenging terrains, including long riverine stretches, mountains, and marshy areas, making it challenging to install fences. As a result, the BSF and other agencies rely on technical gadgets to monitor and prevent infiltration.
“I firmly believe that a country cannot develop and prosper if its borders are not secure…the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the country to the moon with the Chandrayaan mission, G20 Summit and brought the economy from the 11th to the fifth spot, and this was all possible due to our forces deployed for securing the borders like the BSF,” he said.
“You, the BSF, are the essential pillar of this journey,” the minister told the BSF personnel at the ‘Meru’ training camp here.
“I believe that the border fence does not alone protect the country, it only helps in rendering this task. It is the brave BSF jawan who does this task,” he said.
Established on December 1, 1965, the border force, comprising over 2.65 lakh personnel, is predominantly assigned the responsibility of safeguarding the extensive 6,386 km-long Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Home Minister emphasized that border security has consistently been a priority whenever a BJP government assumed leadership in the country, spanning from the administration of former PM A. B. Vajpayee to the present Modi government.
During Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, an “integrated” strategy for border security was introduced. The Modi government, in continuation, has integrated security, development, democratic processes, robust infrastructure, and the implementation of welfare measures for the local population residing along the borders.
“We strengthened rail, road, waterways and telephone communication connectivity apart from land trade,” he said.
The Home Minister added that over the past nine years, his government established 452 additional border posts, erected 510 observation towers, provided electricity to 637 border posts, and ensured piped water connections for 500 facilities across various fronts.
Speaking on Left Wing Extremism (LWE), Shah said that the nation is on the brink of eradicating the armed and violent movement conducted by Maoist cadres.
Over the past decade, he noted a substantial decrease in Naxal violence, with incidents dropping by 52%, fatalities in these events decreasing by 70%, and the count of affected police stations reducing from 495 to 176.
“The last strike against LWE by forces like the BSF, CRPF and ITBP is in the process. We are determined to end Naxalism in the country,” he said.
The minister added that as many as 199 new security forces camps were established in the LWE affected areas over the last ten years.
“I am sure we will win this battle,” he said.
Over the past decade under the Modi government, major progress has been achieved in resolving challenges in the key areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism (LWE), and insurgency in the northeast. The security forces have successfully asserted control and dominance in Jammu and Kashmir, marking victories in these identified “hotspots.”