Border Problems and Challenges En

Border Problems and Challenges

Krishna Kumar Tamang, PhD

The topic of problems at border remains ever challenging and fascinating. The suicide bombing on 2 November 2014 at Bagha border check point of India-Pakistan indicates likelihood of sabotage hidden despite high alert with fences of cordon. The instances of Israel-Palestine and the Koreas of North and South are few to cite where border demarcation in all has no adequate address to the issues. Nepal has border about the size of its half territory adjacent to India and a bit less to China. The development strategies and security policies of the country are interlinked and so are they obviously influenced by the polity and parties of the country. The governments of both the neighboring countries have extended friendly cooperation to Nepal in consolidating border management inculcating border concerning all aspects from immigration to quarantine, customs, security, contain cross-border crimes and etc.

The open and uncontrolled border of Nepal with India has undoubtedly advantages to the locals of either side in employment, education and petty trades to day to day chores. However, anti-social and criminal mind characters too in the meantime mingling with the public misuse the privilege of open border by committing crimes. The crimes at the border and their causation make the governments consider the border with much care and sensitivity. The freedom of movement at the border eases the criminals to commit crimes of burglary, robbery, theft, murder, smuggling, pedaling narcotic drugs, trafficking girls, arms and ammunition and many more. (Vidya, 2001)1

Nepal-India border is unique in the sense that the people of these countries pass through any points of the other to their convenience. There are altogether 22 check posts in between Nepal and India for carrying out bilateral trades while six designated points for third country nationals with valid documentation and permits. Illicit trades along the border constitute illegal chopping of logs, trafficking of wildlife, drugs, arms, and bribing employees to exploit unlawful interests. They comprise domestic merchandise and counterfeit products also. (Craig, Finn, 2011)2

Armed Police Force (APF) founded in 2000 in the wake of insurgency and political instability in Nepal had 13 assigned tasks as the mandate. Amongst the primary tasks one is of border security and pertaining that APF has manned 26 districts adjoining to India. Out of 15 districts in the north with bordering China as of present status 8 districts have APF units. APF has counter mechanisms as launched programs of public awareness against evading tax at customs and trafficking of girls at the border of Nepal with India from the most eastern part of the country to the far most western. APF run Immediate Response Teams (IRT) patrol round the clock in vicinity of particular APF units and their AOR (Area of Responsibility) ensuring safety and security for the country people.

Smuggling items seized tendency show Nepal used as transit point of red sandalwood from India to Tibet. Nepal is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) and no products of wood or wildlife can go through Nepal. On several occasions foreign nationals were apprehended in Nepal with fake Indian currency notes. The foreigners probably selected Nepal for committing crimes because of the following reasons:

i. Uncontrolled border

ii. Unemployment problems

iii. Easy access to and fro at border home to criminals and smugglers

          Bilateral talks on Nepal-India border of security concern are held in regular frequency at different levels of border control units to minister and the higher official levels. In this connection several coordination meetings have already been done. The Banbasa bridge of Far West Nepal-India border opening from 18 October 2014 for extended hours of four to seven is the latest achievement of one such cooperation and coordination meetings. The last coordination meeting with officials of Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) held in New Delhi was led by Inspector General of APF with a seven-member team (3-5 Dec2012). The SSB team was led by the Director General. (nepalnews.com 2012)3

06 November 2014

 References:

1.   Vidya Bir Singh Kansakar, P. D. (2001). Nepal-India Open Border: Prospects, Problems and Challenges. Kathmandu, Nepal.

2.  Craig Fagan, Finn Heinrich (28 April 2011). Evidence of illegal cross-border flows of funds, goods and services in south Asia and their impact on corruption (Resource material Number: 282), Transparency International. Retrieved from http://www.U4.no. Expert Answers provide targeted and timely anti-corruption expert advice toU4partner agency staff

3.  nepalnews.com (2012). First-ever Indo-Nepal border guard-level talks begins

Published:

Armed Police Day Special Publication,

Year-13, Issue -1 16th Nov. 2014