Posted on 02/20/2005 8:58:04 AM PST by Dan Evans
Chief of Army Staff Gen N C Vij says the Army would wrap up Operation Deewar, which entails fencing a 590-km stretch along the Line of Control, by June 30. The fencing would go a long way in curbing infiltration, he says. Rightly so. But is fencing the only solution to the problem?
Chandigarh, June 6: Says Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri (retd), ‘‘The barbed wire which has been put on isn’t foolproof as it can be negotiated. For this, it should be surveyed regularly. Otherwise it wouldn’t serve the purpose. If the surveillance is not strong, the fencing can be crossed over by infiltrators, especially in the event of a war.’’
To ensure surveillance of the fences, he adds, while improved devices and sensors play a major role, it is also a good idea to involve people living in those areas, who face the consequences every time, in surveillance activities. This can be done by inducting them in Home Guards or some suitable organisation.
‘‘Efforts should be made to look for a lasting solution for which talks with miltants and at diplomatic levels should continue. A lasting solution rather than fights is in the best interest of both the nations,’’ he opines.
Border fencing, points out Lt Gen G S Kler (retd), isn’t the only solution as the fences can be cut if there is no surveillance. Even if the fences are electrified, those wishing to cross over can cut the fences by putting on gloves.
‘‘Moreover, because of the Jammu and Kashmir terrain, it isn’t possible to make fencing a foolproof method of checking infiltrators. They always find some alternative channel like gullies and nullahs to cross over. For this, physical surveillance is a must,’’ he says.
Added to this, talks with militants should continue to ensure that peace prevails. Efforts should also be made to talk to the hardliners and continue with the dialogue, he observes. For Col Angad Singh (retd) , though border fencing is a very positive step towards checking infiltrators, it is wrong to call it a foolproof method.
Even after fencing the border, physical and aero surveillance should be done regularly. Complacency would give a leeway to the intruders. ‘‘Diplomatic talks are also required side by side to find out a lasting solution to the problem. This is imperative as both the countries are poor. The funds which are now channelised to step up Defence arrangements could then be used to alleviate poverty,’’ he remarks.
As per Col J S Mand (retd) , border fencing has to be supplemented with intensive patrolling as it is very vulnerable and can be breached. The fence has to be covered by patrolling and pickets at certain distances, he added. Fences can be easily cut if not effectively patrolled.
Proper surveillance would also help to keep a check on stretches like gullies, passes and nullahs which otherwise can offer an easy access to intruders. As fas as diplomatic level talks go, says Col Mand, there has been a lot of talk including the Simla Agreement and many moves have been made towards peace progress. However, not much has been achieved. A lasting solution lies in accepting the LoC as an international border
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This fence was built with lots of opposition from the Pakis.It is backed up by high-tech sensors sourced from folks like Israel,Russia & probably the US to detect any Paki who got through & constantly monitored by Israeli UAVs.India building a similar fence on it's borders with Bangladesh.
Deewar in Hindi means wall.
I don't see how that's possible. The Indo-Bangla border, at many places, cuts right through populated cities in West Bengal. Not coincidentally, those are the places where most illegals pass through as well. You can't fence the border there without killing the city.
Thanks for the tip on this. Maybe we can hire some of those Indian army officers to consult on a Mexican border fence. If India can afford a fence, why can't we?
It's only for a portion of the Indo-Bangladesh border & is still being constructed.Besides,West Bengal,a lot of N-E states have borders with Bangladesh(including Assam & Tripura) & plenty of militants train in Bangladesh & cross over.The primary purpose of this fence is to stop the militants & the fence will hence be along the N-E states,while the portion for West Begal will be done later.
It's easy. If the border cuts through a city, sacrifice the city:
"Many villagers living close to the LoC in the Uri sector complained that since the 786 km-long electrified fence -- codenamed Operation Deewar -- was built by the Indian Army at a whopping cost, they are finding life increasingly difficult.
"This is particularly applicable to regions where the fence has been built much inside -- some 20 km in some areas -- Indian territory.
"Some 20 to 30 Uri villages lie between the new fences and the LoC. The villagers have to return to their homes because the gates of the fences close down. "
In West Bengal? Not gonna happen. These are urban areas that have been around for hundreds of years, not some Kashmiri village near the LoC. There will be no (effective) fence on the Indo-Bangla border. I have heard of a plan to create zones on the border where you can enter India without being checked, but you can't leave the zone (the zone will basically be the border city) without an immi check.
But so was Berlin, and the Soviets built a wall that cut that city in half. Berlin was also miles inside Soviet controlled territory. India is consulting with former Russian specialists for this.
The Soviets didn't have elections to worry about. Indian pols do. Villages are, therefore, much easier to f*** with than are cities. More people, and all that.
True. But India has a big problem, and if the public is hurting bad from terrorist infiltration it might be politically acceptable to do something like that. Also, what is the nature of these cities? If they are mostly terrorist sympathizers, then cutting the whole city off, might be the the only thing they could possibly do.
Most of those border towns are just that. They depend on illegal Bangladeshis for low cost labour.
The parallels are amazing. Sounds just like California. Except Mexicans are fanning out into all the other states too. It looks like India has already abandoned some of the smaller villages on the other side of the fence. Do you think they might do that with a city?
There aren't any major cities near the Bangladesh border, mostly hamlets and little towns.
Yes, I see. There aren't any towns divided by the border in West Bengal. So I don't know what AM2000 was talking about.
He probably confused farms for cities. It is in the farms that Bangladeshi labour finds favour (Rhyme not intended).
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