Why Choose Borderman?
India, a country in the Indian subcontinent, is well known for the diversities it posses in terms of culture, religion, languages, the topographical and demographical vastness and also the climate and weather conditions which are so much different from one area or region to another. It is among a very few countries that has high mountainous snow clad ranges in the North and East, the plains in the central regions, the deserts and marshy land on the West, a long coastal line along Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal submerging into the largest delta and mangrove, the Sundarbans and finally the thick tropical humid forest stretches in the North East.
India is a vast country and has also got uniqueness for the nature of its borders with its neighbouring countries. For a layperson, the border is simply a line dividing the two countries. In reality, it has strong geopolitical meaning as it denotes the limit of sovereignty a country exercises over its territory and citizens. India has, to a large extent, well defined, artificially created, demarcated land or riverine borders with the countries created after the partition of India in 1947. It has a fairly long Line of Control (LC) with Pakistan in the state of, now Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, a long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in three sectors from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. In simple terms, both China and Pakistan have occupied a strategically advantageous territory of India.
Whether natural or artificial borders, so long these borders are kept free of disputes, the relations between the two neighbouring countries will remain cordial and friendly. Knowing very well, the strategy of China is to keep border issues with India unresolved so as to put India in a state of uncertainty and all the time under a state of unease. The Chinese reasoning is: Never allow India the luxury of having found solution for its borders, keep it guessing and use this as a tool for diplomatic bargaining, propaganda, and other relations. The recent move from Nepal was a big surprise when it, for whatever reasons or compulsions, raked up the boundary issue with India. It has surprised many, and even if the issue is resolved or put on the back burner, the age old relations between two counties have suffered a setback.
For achieving peace and better understanding between two countries, a clear understanding and approach is a prerequisite to be worked out by working towards land boundary agreements as done between India and Bangladesh. It facilitated in addressing many issues besides an issue like the exchange of enclaves between the two countries. It paves way for better understanding and confidence building between the stakeholders of two countries, bound by history, culture and common aspirations for a better future. The pro-Indian end of the political spectrum in Bangladesh supports India in its fight against fundamentalist terrorism.
It is important to note that the concept of border security has changed over the years. The activities in border areas have undergone a big change; it has become more border population welfare centric. The border population is a key stakeholder; the border areas need to be given priority for systematic development. It has a lot of potentials to be developed for economic, agricultural, industrial, all modes of communications in these areas. It can also have mutual development schemes and projects which can prove beneficial to the population on both sides of the ‘Border’ line. This requires coordination between central and state agencies as well.
Borderman Foundation is a manifesto of cooperative security and collective progress; it is a platform that will provide ample opportunities to those who are interested in knowing as to how extreme parts of our national territories should be taken along to make our country march towards peaceful future. A peaceful environment and stability on the borders is a must, keeping the borders peaceful can lead to development. Creating trust is necessary.
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