More troops on China, Pak border

The Centre has decided to raise 17 more battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to fortify the frontiers with Pakistan and China in the wake of heightened tension, government sources said.

The BSF guards the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders while the ITBP protects the 3,488km disputed Line of Actual Control with China.

"The government has decided to raise 17 battalions of the country's two border-guarding forces to dominate and secure the two important frontiers with Pakistan and China. The Centre is worried about the growing proximity between the two countries amidst intelligence reports of China's physical presence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," a home ministry official said.

The increasing bonhomie between China and Pakistan, he said, is also being viewed as a possible military nexus between the two countries.

Sources said the recruitment of fresh troops in the BSF and the ITBP would start soon and they were expected to be deployed in a year.

The raising of these additional battalions is aimed at better patrolling and maintaining extra vigil along the two sensitive frontiers.

Each battalion has nearly 1,000 jawans.

"The heads of the two paramilitary forces will soon be given the go-ahead to start the recruitment process," the official said.

Since last year the ITBP and BSF brass have been requesting the government to sanction more battalions in the wake of frequent transgressions by Chinese troops along the LAC and regular instances of unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations from across the Pakistan border.

"The additional battalions will also help us crack down on infiltration and smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border," a BSF official said.

The two paramilitary forces are the first line of defence along the two frontiers followed by the Indian Army.

 telegraphindia