Institute of Border Studies - Blog

When one thinks of India's territorial borders, the first pictures that come to our minds are the towering Himalayas or the vast deserts of Rajasthan. But a long way off from the mainland, in the blue depths of the Bay of Bengal, there are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands - a cluster of islands that represent India’s maritime frontier, surrounded by international sea lanes, territorial waters and strategic interests. These islands are not only tourist destinations, but also geopolitical goldmines, the first line in the Indian Ocean chess game, anchoring India’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a cluster of 572 islands, situated about 1,200 km southeast of mainland India. Though they are mostly uninhabited (only 37 are inhabited), few of them carry immense strategic and military importance. In terms of location, they sit at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, along with the Malacca Strait, one of the most significant mar...

A recent incident in the Northeast has raised questions about border preparedness amid seasonal pressure. Incessant rainfall damaged National Highway 113, resulting in the cutting off of the China-bordering Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh for more than a week. This damage has disrupted access to remote regions of the Anjaw district, such as Kibithoo and Chaglagam. They hold strategic significance due to their proximity to the China border. Due to stalled vehicular movement, the local population is facing logistical problems. They are forced to carry essential supplies on their head. It is an alarming incident not just from a humanitarian perspective, but more from a strategic and national security perspective. Strategic Concerns The state of Arunachal Pradesh has been a site of multiple encroachments and skirmishes, including the 1962 war and the recent Tawang clash in 2022. China illegally claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of South Tibet. Anjaw district, which was cut off for ove...