- There is an informal open border regime between Nepal and India supporting sustenance of livelihood & cultural linkages of millions of people. However, this asset is turning into a liability due to extra-regional countries’ design to destabilise relationship between India and Nepal.
- Terrorist outfits like LeT, Indian Mujahideen and insurgent groups from Northeast have been using open border to provide logistical support (supply of trained cadres, fake Indian currency and terror finance by using Nepalese banks, dispersal of small arms, explosives and narcotics) to their operations.
- There are frequent reports of misuse of open border by local criminal gangs, smuggling of subsidised consumer goods and allegations of encroachment of territory. People living in the border region of both the countries engage in these activities.
Challenges
- Cross-border terrorism: Abdul Karim Tunda, Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, was arrested from Nepal. Yasin Bhatkal co-founder of Indian Mujahideen, was arrested from border region.
- Trans-border crime: Indian criminal Bablu Dubey was arrested by Nepal Police.
- Smuggling of goods and machinery.
- Infiltration of third country nationals: Bangladeshi citizen used to cross Nepal-India porous border illegally in disguise of Indian national (West Bengal). Such is the case from Pakistani, Afghani, Iranian citizens Indian (Uttar Pradesh State) nationals etc. Similarly, Bhutanese and Myanmar citizens cross border illegally in the disguise of Nepali nationals.
- Transportation of fake Indian currency notes from third country via Nepal to India.
- Smuggling of gold
- Abduction of businessmen and their children
- Illegal transaction of small arms and gunpowder.
- Trafficking of girls and women.
Way Forward
- Since 98% of border is demarcated by joint survey, both the countries should resolve the border disputes by singing on the survey report. That will avoid border encroachment disputes. For e.g., Kalapani dispute.
- Since both the countries are affected due to the misuse of open border by internal and external forces, the responsibility of border management and regulation depends on both.
- Although India has taken certain measures, like deployment of additional SSB personnel, construction of integrated border check posts and capacity building programmes for the SSB, similar responses are required from Nepal.
- Last but not the least, meetings pertaining to joint border management mechanism should be organised regularly for effective border management, coordination, and to avoid any kind of misunderstanding between both the countries.
- Indian and Nepal should create more integrated check posts on the border areas to facilitate legitimate trade.
- Some kind of identity verification should be created on the border to check infiltration by terrorist and criminals.
