India’s new vision for maritime security is comprehensively articulated in Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy, a 2015 document by the Indian Navy.
This document clarifies that the Indian Navy’s interest areas now cover the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, IOR Island nations, Southwest Indian Ocean and East Coast of Africa littoral countries among many other nations and areas. The South China Sea, East China Sea and Western Pacific Ocean and their littoral nations are included in the Indian Navy’s secondary priority areas.
The document highlights some key facets of the nautical dynamic in India’s maritime neighbourhood:
One, it acknowledges the hybrid nature of maritime challenges – the blurring of lines between traditional and non-traditional threats.
Smart Fence Mechanism: Under this mechanism, laser walls and heat sensor system will be installed on the boundary.
‘Area Domination’ Strategy: Under this strategy, a string of Border Out Posts (BOPs) have been established along the international boundary from where BSF personnel are sent out for patrolling, surveillance and gathering intelligence or information. In the Jammu sector, where the frequency of infiltration and sniping from across the border is high, a multilayer defence structure in the form of fencing, ditch-cum-bund and a string of fortified BOPs have been put in place.
To guard the creek areas in Gujarat, the BSF has raised a marine battalion named BSF (Water Wing) at Bhuj.
Establishment of Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) project in mission mode to facilitate safe and convenient entry to the country to legitimate international travellers and to keep a tab on illegal migration
Integrated Check Posts (ICP): Integrated check posts have been developed at various locations on the international borders of the country to ensure seamless movement of goods and persons. Since 2012, India has inaugurated seven ICPs at Attari, Kartarpur, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, and Moreh. Out of these, Kartarpur is currently limited to passenger movement. India has also been constructing ICPs at Rupaidiha (Uttar Pradesh), Dawki (Meghalaya) and Sabroom (Tripura).
Development of the Border Areas: Government of India initiated the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) which focuses on implementing projects related to infrastructure, livelihood, education, health, agriculture and allied sectors.
India has signed bilateral agreement/MoUs on drug related matters with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan & Myanmar.
Initiation of Director General Level talks between Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Anti-Narcotics Force of Pakistan are being held annually between both agencies on issues related to drug trafficking. This has led to improved coordination between various drug enforcement agencies.
The Border Guarding Forces such as Border Security Force & Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB) have been empowered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for making interdiction of narcotic drugs. Financial assistance is being provided to eligible States for strengthening their narcotic units at the Border States.
Monetary rewards are being provided to informers and officers for information leading to seizures of Narcotic drugs/ destruction of illicit crops.
Balakot and Uri Surgical Strikes: In recent times, the government in response to the terrorist attacks on the Indian army, performed two surgical strikes to eliminate the disturbing non-state actors in and across the Line of Action (LoC), by our Armed Forces (Uri on 28-29 September, 2016 and Balakot airstrike on February 26, 2019 under Operation ‘Bandar’). Such pro-active steps from the Indian government will act as deterrence for further terrorist attacks on Indian lands.
